THE  LIBRARIES 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 

FATHERS      PONZIGLIONE,     SCHOEN- 

MAKERS  AND  OTHER  EARLY 

JESUITS  AT 

OSAGE  MISSION. 


SKETCH  OF  ST  FRANCIS*  CHURCH. 
LIFE  OF  MOTHER  BRIDGET. 


BY  W.  W.  GRAVES. 


Copyrighted  1916  By  W,  W.  Graves. 


Published  by  W.  W.  Gravks, 
St.  Pauu  Kansas. 


^3a'5 


C-7S- 


/.•^n 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Chapti:r  I. — Father  Ponziglione. 

A  Royal  Missionary, I 

Born  a  Real  Count,       ........    2 

Deported  by  Revolutionists, 4 

His  Troubles  in  Rome, 6 

His  Journey  Westward, 7 

His  Labors  Among  the  Osages,  ....  10 
His  Labors  Among  the  Whites,      ....     14 

Celebrates  His  Jubilee, 19 

Jubilee  Poems, 23 

Father  Paul-  Leaves  the  Mission,      ....    30 

Active  Life  in  the  North, 33 

Fifty  Years  a  Priest, 35 

Interpreter  Aids  in  a  Confession,       -     -     '     if 

Encountered  the  Benders, 37 

Preached  Strong  Sermons, 39 

Slept  With  Ranchmen, 42 

Lost  on  the  Prairie  During  Blizzard,       .     .     43 

Kept  ''The  Faith"  Alive, 45 

A    Bogus    Nephew, .     45 

Mistaken  for  a  Spy, 46 

Narrow  Escape  from  Drowning,      ....     48 

First  Pastor  of  Ottawa, 48 

Largest  Sunday  School  in  the  World,     .     .     50 

Newspapers   Notes,       •     •     53 

Chapter  II. — The  Apostle  Of  South  Eastern 
Kansas. 

In  the  Wilderness, 5^ 

Looking  Backward,       61 

Father  Paul's  Missionary  Work,  ....  65 
Chapter  III. — 'A  Non-Catholic's  Comment. 
John  R.  Brunt's  Comment  on  Father  Paul,      71 

Chapter  IV. — An  Appre:ciation. 
Personal  Recollection  by  Miss  Lizzie  Berry,      74 

Chapter  Y. — Mr.  Brewster's  Address. 
An  Address  Before  The  Kansas  Historical 

Society,      . 7^ 


CiiAPTJiR  VI. — Lkttsrs  Of  Father  Paui,. 


93 
94 
94 
95 
95 
96 

97 
97 
98 
98 

99 
100 

ICX) 
lOI 

102 


Origin  of  the  Osage  Catholic  Mission, 

A   Mission   Desired, 

Manual  Labor  School  Established, 
A    IVesbyterian    Mission,        .     . 
Osages  Settle  in  Neosho  County, 
yVnother   Presbyterian   Mission, 
Catholic  Mission  Established, 
-Manual  Labor  School,       .     .     . 

Convent  Established 

Enlargement — And    School    Built 
Indian  Agency  Removed,       .     . 
Annuity  }*ayments  and  Feasting, 
The  American  Fur  Company,       .     . 
Benefit  and  Results  of  Mission  School 

Osa^e  Scholars 

Osages  Again  Remove 102 

A  Town  Started, 105 

Pioneer  of  1851  Relates  Experiences,      .     .     103 

Kansas  Church  History 108 

St.   Patrick's  Celebration 109 

Osage   Indian   Question 109 

Some  Reminiscences,         in 

Letters    to    Miss    Berry 116 

Chapter  VII. — The  Osages. 

Brief  History  of  Osages 125 

Father  Schoenmaker's  Letter T31 

Interview  with  Father  Paul 132 

Chapter  VIII. — Antecedents  Of  The  Mission 
Events  that  Led  to  its  Establishment,      ,     .     139 

Chapter  IX. — Western  Indian  Missions. 

An  Article  From  The  Kansas  Magazine,    .     145 

Chapter  X. — Father  De  La  Croix. 

Biography  of  First  Missionary 160 

Cff AFTER    XT. — Fathe^i    Van    Quickenbohnk. 
Biography  of  First  Jesuit  Missionary.       .     163 

Chapter  XII. — Father  Verreydt. 
The  Predecessor  of  Father  Schoenmakers,      177 

Chapter  XIII. — Father  Schoenmakers. 
His  Earlv  Davs 180 


Leaves  for  the  O  sages, 182 

Opens  the  School-, 183 

Quapaw  Indians  Admitted  to  School,    .     .  186 

Drouths  and  Grasshoppers, 188 

Troubles  During  the  War, 192 

Charters  St.  Francis'  Institution,       .     .     .  190 

The  Court  of  Last  Resort, 200 

Erects    Substantial    Buildings,       ....  204 

The  First  Postmaster, 205 

Organizes  a  Town  Company,       ....  206 

Seldom   in    Court,        206 

Retires  from  Active  Duties 209 

Fifty  Years  a  Priest, 210 

His  Last  Days, 215 

A  Man  of  Modesty 217 

A  Man  of  Courage,      ' 217 

His  Introduction  to  the  Osages,      ....  218 

A  Letter  to  The  Big  Chief, 219 

Chapter  XIV.— Father  John  Bax. 

Biographical    Sketch 221 

Father  Bax's  First  Letter, 222 

Father  Bax's  Second  Letter,      ...         .  233 

Father  Bax's  Third  Letter,      ' 243 

Death  of  Father  Bax, 245 

Chapter   XV. — Pi^esidents   Of   St.   Francis 
Institution. 

Father    Adrian    Sweere,        254 

Father  John  Kuhlman,      .......  254 

Father  ^T.  R.  Rosvvinkle 256' 

Father  B.  A.  Shaffel,       . 256 

Chapter  XV^I. — Other  Early  Jesuits. 

Father  Adrian  Van  Hulst, ^^f 

Father  Theodore  Heimann, 257 

Father  J.  Logan 257 

Father  "j.  C.  Van  Goch 257 

Father   J-   I-    Settles 258 

Father  Phillip  Colleton 258 

Brother  Thomas  O'Donnell 260 

Father  Van  Der  Hagan 260 

Father  Joseph  M.  Rimimele 261 


Chapter  XVII. — Sr,  Francis  Church. 

History,  Magnitude,  Etc., 262 

Father  Paul  Writes  of  St.  Francis  Church,     265 
The  Old  Log  Church, 271 

Chapter  XVIIL— Sisters  Oe  Loretto. 

Sisters  of  Loretto  Among  the  Osages,    .     .     273 

St.  Ann's  Academy  Established,    ....     276 

Chapter  XIX. — Mother  Bridget. 

Biographical  Sketch,         280 

John  Brunt's  Tribute, 282 

Margaret  Hill  McCarter's  Tribute,    .     .     .     283 
Father  Paul's  Tribute 286 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Father  Ponziglione,      .     .     .     .     .     .      Opening 

Home  of  the  Jesuits  at  Osage  Mission,    .     .     12 

The  Old  Log  Church.         60 

St.  Francis'  Church.  Monastery  and  School,     y6 

St.  Francis'  Institution,  108 

St.  Ann's  Academy,         124 

Father  Schoenmakers, 1.89 

Mother   Bridget, 204 

College  Hall,  St.  Francis'  Church  and 

Monastery,  1890,     ....>....     252 
St.  Francis'  Church,  268 


,   c^ sm^Ut^tm^JS 


This  picture  is  made  from  an  oil 
painting  made  by  Edgar  Leon,  of  Chi- 
cago, for  St.  Paul's  Council  No.  760, 
Knights  of  Columbus,  and  donated  by 
the  Ccuncil  to  the  Kansas-  Historical 
Society.  The  painting  is  in -the  Art 
Gallery  of  the   Society  at  Topeka. 


INTRODUCTION. 

''For  min  ■■  own  part, 
I  shall  be  glad  Uo  learn  of  noble  men!' 

— Shakespeare:. 

The  pages  of  history  teem  with  the  achieve- 
ments of  mihtary  men  and  of  statesmen,  but  it 
often  happens  that  men  who  have  done  greater 
work  for  humanity  are  given  only  passing  notice. 
The  mission  of  the  mihtary  man  is  to  destroy. 
His  work  characterizes  the  animal  nature  of  man. 
The  statesman  has  to  do  with  the  political  and 
business  side  of  life  which  is  more  or  less  con- 
structive and  commendable.  The  humble  mis- 
sionary deals  with  the  spiritual  and  more  elevat- 
ing features  of  life.  He  substitutes  the  Cross  of 
Christ  for  the  rifle  and  bayonet.  He  flies  nq 
flag.  He  sounds  no  bugle  call  save  that  of  his 
own  voice.  His  uniform  is  the  plain  black  robe 
of  his  order.  The  battles  he  fights  are  battles 
for  peace,  light  and  eternal  happiness.  He  goes 
about  his  labars  quietly,  without  the  "blare  of 
trumpets,"  roar  of  cannon,  or  the  ''pomp  of. 
state,"  seldom  attracting  attention  outside  of  the 
limited  field  of  his  labors ;  but  who  can  say  that 
his  is  not  the  noblest  calling  of  all  and  that  in  the 
final  reckoning  his  will  not  be  the  greatest  re- 
ward ?  Who  can  say  that  mankind  does  not  reap 
greater  benefits  from  the  services  of  the  humble 
but  sincere  missionary  than  from  those  of  either 
the  soldier  or  the  statesman?  These  missionaries 
have  blazed  the  way  of  civilization,  raised  men 
out  of  savagery,  out  of  the  "slough  of  despond," 
and   "made   straight   the   paths"   mankind   must 


tread.  The  effects  of  their  labors  reflect  far  in- 
to the  future  and  generations  after  generations 
reap  benefits  therefrom,  and  many  a  man  has 
thereby  been  enabled  to  pass  the  portals  of  the 
''pearly  gates"  who  otherwise  would  have  travel- 
ed the  other  way. 

It  is  in  an  effort  to  give  one  of  these  mission- 
aries, Rev.  Paul  M.  Ponziglione  S.  J.,  his  true 
place  in  history,  that  I  have  compiled  this  book. 
He  was  truly  a  "noble  man,"  yet  one  of  the 
humblest  among  men.  He  labored  without 
pay  or  desire  for  or  hope  of  earthly  reward, 
yet  no  man  did  a  greater  service  for  Kansas  in 
its  pioneer  days.  The  Osage  Indians  as  well  as 
thousands  of  white  people  today  are  enjoying 
blessings  resulting  from  labors  he  so  quietly 
performed  that  historical  writers  know  not  of 
them.  No  doubt  many  important  events  in  his 
life  are  not  recorded  because  only  few  knew  of 
them,  and  in  his  humility  he  did  not  record  them 
himself. 

In  compiling  this  book,  I  feel  I  cannot  do  him 
full  justice,  but  as  abler  writers  have  not  under- 
taken it,  I  have  done  my  best  during  the  few 
hours  I  could  spare  from  my  newspaper  work. 
I  have  searched  all  records  available  and  have 
written  many  letters  of  inquiry  in  an  effort  to 
get  accurate  information,  and  I  am  thankful  to 
all  those  who  gave  me  assistance.  I  have  added 
a  number  of  articles  written  by  others  which 
have  a  bearing  on  the  life  of  Father  Ponziglione 
or  give  an  insight  into  thei  conditions  of  the 
country  at  the  time  he  was  doing  his  great  mis- 
sionary work  in  Kansas  and  what  is  now  Okla- 
homa. I  have  also  added  extended  references  to 
som.e  of  his  co-laborers  here  in  Kansas  and  to  St. 
Francis'  Church.  His  labors  were  so  closely  as- 
sociated with  others  and  with  this  church  that  his 
biography  cannot  be  fully  told  without  telling 
something  of  them. 


I  knew  Father  Ponziglione  personally,  and  re- 
member him  as  a  man  below  average  height,  but 
rather  stoutly  built.  He  was  an  old  man  when 
I  knew  him,  his  hair  being  almost  snow-white, 
but  he  had  an  elastic  step  and  a  cheery  smile 
that  made  one  forget  his  age.  He  accosted  the 
rich  and  the  poor,  the  Christian  and  the  sinner, 
the  friend  and  the  stranger  alike  with  the  same 
pleasant  greeting  that  made  for  him  a  friend  of 
everyone.  Altho  he  wore  "purple  and  fine  linen" 
in  his  boyhood  days,  his  attire  in  after  years  was 
always  plain  and  in  keeping  with  his  calling.  He 
was  always  doing  good  to  the  needy  and  worthy, 
yet  he  did  it  quietly  and  sought  to  avoid  pub- 
licity or  praise.  He  was  truly  a  true  follower 
of  the  "Lowly  Nazarene,"  and  is  now  reaping  an 
eternal  reward  for  his  fidelity  and  for  his  great 
work  for  humanity  and  for  God.  The  memory 
of  his  friendship  will  always  be  cherished  by  the 
writer. 

Yours  truly, 

W.  W.  Graves. 
St.  Paul,  Kansas,  1916. 


''Brave  men  are  they  who  push  and  climb 

Beyond  all  formulas, 
While  the  plodding  ranks  that  serve  old  Time 

Pull  hack  for  Time's  old  way; 
Strong  men  are  they  who  hold  their  own 

On  the  outposts  of  the  new, 
'Till  the  zvorld  hath  to  their  stature  grown 

And  seen  that  false  was  true." 


THE  JESUIT  MISSION. 

Just  las  the  sun  went  down,  they  heard  a  murmur  of 
voices, 

And  in  a  meadow  green  and  broad,  by  the  bank  of  a 
river, 

Saw  the  tents  of  the  Christians,  the  tents  of  the 
Jesuit  Mission. 

Under  a  towering  oak  that  stood  in  tlie  midst  of  tbe 
village, 

Knelt  the  Black  Robe  chief  with  his  children.  A 
crucifix  fastened 

High  €n  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  and  overshadowed  by 
grapevines, 

booked  with  agonizing  face  on  the  multitude  kneel- 
ing beneath  it. 

This,  was  their  rural  chapel.  Aloft  thru  the  intri- 
cate arches 

Of  its  aerial  roof,  arose  the  chant  of  their  vespers, 

Mingling  its  notes  with  the  soft  sursurrus  and  sighs 
of  the  branches. 

Silent,  with  heads  uncovered,  the  travelers  nearer 
approaching. 

Knelt  on  the  swarded  floor,  and  joined  in  the  even- 
ing devotions. 

But  when  the  service  was  done,  and  the  benedictiooi 
had  fallen 

Forth  from  the  hands  of  the  priest,  like  seed  from 
the  hand  of  the  sower, 

Slowly  the  reverend  man  advanced  to  the  strangers 
and  bade  them 

Welcome;  and  when  they  replied,  he  smiled  with 
benignant  expression. 

Hearing  the  homelike  sounds,  of  his  mother-tongue 
in  the  forest, 

And,  with  words  of  kindness  condiucted  them  to  his 
wigwam. 

There  upon  mats  and  skins  they  reposed,  and  on 
cakes  of  the  maize-ear 

Feasted^  and  slaked  their  thirst  from  the  water- 
gourd  of  the  teacher.  —LONGFELLOW. 


The  Life  and  Letters 


=OF= 


REV.  FATHER  PAUL  M.  PONZIGLIONE  S.  J. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A   ROYAL   MISSIONARY. 

''Seek  out  the  man  z^'Iio  Jias  God  fpr  his  guide; 
Nothing  to  bhtsh  for  and  nothing  to  hide; 
Be  lie  a  noble  or  be  he  in  trade, 
This  is  the  qentlenian  nature  has  made." 

— N.  L.  O'D. 

Rev.  Paul  M.  Ponziglione  S.  J.,  (pronounced 
Pon-zee-!o-nee,  third  sylable  accented,  long  o.) 
was  one  of  those  pioneer  Jesuit  missionary 
priests  who  had  their  home  at  Osage  Mission, 
(now  St.  Paul,)  Kansas,  and  who  labored  among 
the  Osage  Indians  and  the  early  settlers  in  south- 
eastern Kansas  and  the  Indian  Territory  more 
than  half  a  century  ago.  A  desire  to  carry  the 
gospel  of  Christ  to  the  Indian  aborigines  of  the 
])lains  was  the  spirit  that  impelled  him  to  leave 
the  palace  of  his  truly  "royal"  family  in  sunny 
Italy  to  take  up  his  abode  in  a  log  hut  in  the 
wilderness  of  the  prairies  where  members  of  his 
race  were  few  and  far  apart,  but  where  Indians, 
yet  untrained  in  the  ways  of  civilization  roamed 
at  will,  hampered  only  by  fear  of  the  wild  beasts 
which  then  dominated  the  plains.  Few  men  vol- 
unteer to  make  such  sacrifices  as  to  give  up  a 
palace   for  a  hut,  riches   for  poverty,  ease  and 


2  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

pleasure  for  much  labor  and  many  hardships,  and 
yet  still  fewer  men  have  accomplished  as  much 
good  for  the  world  and  left  behind  such  a  record 
of  noble,  heroic  deeds,  such  a  record  of  achieve- 
ments. His  efforts  brought  countless  blessings 
to  these,  to  him,  strange  and  foreign  people,  which 
will  continue  to  result  in  their  good  for  genera- 
tions yet  to  come.  The  white  man  too  shared  in  the 
fruits  of  his  labors  and  was  thereby  strengthened 
to  face  the  battles  incident  to  the  "blazing  of  the 
way  of  civilization,"  and  the  transformation  of 
the  wilderness  into  homesteads.  Even  now,  seeds 
sown  by  Father  Ponziglione  continue  to  bear 
fruit  that  add  materially  to  the  welfare  of  peo- 
ple who  never  knew  him  or  even  suspect  the 
identity  of  the  sower. 

BORN  A  REAL  COUNT. 

"Hands  that  the  rod  of  empire  might  have  sway- 
ed, 

Or  waked  to  ecstacy  the  living  lyre." — Gray. 

Father  Ponziglione  was  born  February  ii, 
1818,  in  the  city  of  Qierasco,  the  Tusculum  or 
fashionable  summer  resort  of  the  upper  classes 
of  Turin,  in  Piedmont,  Italy.  His  father  was 
Count  Felice  Ferrero  Ponziglione  di  Borgo 
d'Ales.  His  mother  was  the  Countess  Ferrero 
Ponziglione,  nee  Marchioness  Ferari  di  Castel- 
nuovo,  of  the  Royal  family  of  Italy.  The  bap- 
tismal name  given  Father  Ponziglione  was  Count 
Paul  M.  Ferrero  Ponziglione  di  Borgo  d'Ales. 
Besides  being  a  Ferrero  and  a  Ponziglione,  he 
was  also  a  Guerra,  his  father's  mother  having 
been  the  Countess  of  Guerra,  the  last  represent- 
ative in  a  direct  line  of  that  ancient  noble  family. 
There  are  male  descendants  of  the  Ferreros  still 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL.  3 

living  in  Italy,  but  Father  Paul  was  the  last  male 
representative  of  the  Guerras  and  Ponzigliones 
and  the  direct  titles  of  both  of  those  ancient  and 
truly  noble  families  died  with  him.  On  his  moth- 
er's side,  he  belonged  to  the  Ferrari,  another  well 
known  historic  family  of  Italy.  Marchioness 
Adelaide  d'Omera,  who  resided  for  years  in  the 
palace  d'Omera  in  Turin,  was  his  oldest  sister. 
It  is  said  that  her  son  Marquis  d'Omera  signed 
his  name  d'Omera  Ponziglione  in  order  to  pre- 
serve the  latter  name  from  extinction.  Another 
sister  was  Baroness  Philomena  Oreglia  di  Santo 
Stephano,  whose  brother-in-law.  Cardinal! 
Oreglia  di  Santo  Stephano,  now  deceased,  was 
Cardinal  Dean  or  Senior  Cardinal  during  part 
of  the  reign  of  Pope  Leo  XIII. 

Father  Paul,  as  he  was  familiarly  known  to 
the  people  of  Kansas,  was  educated  as  becanie 
his  nobility,  according  to  the  customs  of  his 
country  in  those  days.  He  was  first  sent  to  the 
Royal  College  of  Novera,  and  later  to  the  Col- 
lege of  Nobles,  .at  Turin,  both  conducted  by  the 
Jesuits.  At  the  end  of  his  college  course  he  pre- 
sented himself  before  the  royal  board  of  examin- 
ers of  the  University  of  Turin  and  won  the  de- 
gree of  bachelor  of  arts.  The  education  of  a. 
young  nobleman  in  those  days  was  not  considered 
complete  until  he  had  won  the  laurels  of  doctojC 
utrisque  juris,  so  Count  Paul  studied  jurispru- 
dence at  the  University  for  more  than  a  year. 
While  at  the  University  he  became  convinced 
that  he  was  called  to  be  a  priest  and  a  Jesuit, 
and  he  set  about  at  once  to  begin  preparation  for 
his  future  labors.  To  become  an  humble  Jesuit 
meant  the  sacrifice  of  very  much  for  him,  as 
the  world  goes.  At  that  time  his  father  was  still 
very  wealthy  and  the  family,  in  all  its  branches, 
was  among  the  most  influential  at  court.    Indeed 


4  LIFE  AND  LETTl^RS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

there  were  evidences  that  Count  Paul  might  be- 
come one  of  the  rulers  of  his  country.  Count 
Paul  realized  all  this  but  he  relinquished  his 
patrimony  into  the  hands  of  his  father,  turned 
his  back  on  worldly  allurements  and  prospects 
and  entered  the  novitiate  of  the  Society  of  Jesus 
at  Chieri,  not  far  from  Turin.  He  was  received 
into  the  Jesuit  Order  February  27,  1839.  Here 
he  was  given  the  ordinary  training  of  young 
Jesuits,  and  from  the  beginning  enjoyed  that 
happiness  which  characterized  his  life  and  which 
was  to  be  to  all  whom  he  would  ever  meet  as 
gladdening  as  laughter  .  and  as  cheering  aiifi 
warming  as  sunshine. 

DEPORTED  BY  REVOLUTIONISTS. 

"Noiv  my  co-mates  and  partners  in  exile 
Hath  not  old  customs  made  this  life  more  sweet 
Than  that  of  painted  pomp?  Are  not  these  plains 
More  free  from  peril  than  the  curious  court?" 

From  Chieri,  Father  Paul  was  sent  to  the 
Jesuit  college  at  Genoa  and  he  was  stationed 
there  at  the  time  the  revolution  of  1848  broke 
out.  Three  strong  factions  were  each  striving 
for  control  of  Italy  in  those  days.  One  faction 
wanted  a  republic,  another  wanted  a  confederacy 
with  the  Pope  at  the  head,  while  the  third  want- 
ed a  constitutional  monarchy  under  the  rule  of 
the  King  of  Sardinia.  Austria,  then  as  now,  was 
recognized  as  an  enemy  of  all  Italy. 

The  leaders  of  the  revolution  in  Genoa  began 
their  brilliant  exploits  on  the  night  of  February 
28,  by  arresting  eighteen  defenceless  old  Jesuit 
Fathers  and  marching  them  in  triumph  to  the 
palace  of  the  governor.  Father  Paul  managed 
to  be  left  behind  at  the  College  to  nurse  an  old 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  EATHER  PAUL.  5 

lay-brother  who,  on  account  of  his  infirmities, 
could  not  be  moved.  The  revolutionists  were  not 
yet  sure  of  their  course  and  this  is  said  to  have 
also  influenced  them  to  hesitate  about  laying 
hands  on  a  Guerra-Ferrero-Ponziglione,  but  the 
next  day  the  governor  went  over  to  the  side  of 
the  revolutionists  and  soon  after  Father  Paul 
was  marched  under  heavy  escort  to  the  palace. 
At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  March  i,  the 
Jesuits  were  conducted  by  a  strong  military 
guard  to  the  sea  coast  and  put  on  board  of  the 
San  Michele,  the  largest  man-of-war  of  the  King 
of  Sardinia,  which  had  been  put  at  the  disposal 
of  the  governor  to  aid  his  faction  of  the  revolu- 
tionists. The  prisoners,  including  Father  Paul, 
were  kept  closely  confined  for  three  days  in  a 
narrow,  dingy  space  like  a  cellar,  in  the  hull  of 
the  ship.  They  were  next  transferred  to  a  ship 
bound  for  the  gulf  of  Spezia.  The  revolution- 
ists had  sent  word  ahead  to  their  confederates 
at  Spezia  to  give  the  Jesuits  a  warm  reception, 
and  it  was  given  by  a  howling  mob  armed  with 
sticks,  stones  and  clods  of  dirt.  Father  Paul  was 
struck  by  a  stone  and  severely  injured  in  the  head 
but  managed,  b}^  the  aid  of  his  companions  to 
escape  into  the  'l>utchy  of  Modena.  The  rabble 
followed  them  to  the  line,-  but  dared  not  pur- 
sue them  farther,  for  Modena  was  dangerous 
ground  for  revolutionists.  After  resting  a  while 
at  Massa  Carara,  the  Fathers  scattered  into  the 
mountains,  leaving  young  Paul  to  shift  for 
himself. 

Having,  some  months  prior  to  the  revolution, 
offered  his  service  as  a  volunteer  missionary  to 
Rev.  Anthony  Elet  S.  J.,  then  superior  of  the 
western  Jesuits  in  the  United  States,  which  offer 
had  been  duly  accepted,  Father  Paul  decided 
to  go  to  the  United  States.     But  he  had  not  yet 


6  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL. 

taken  all  the  steps  in  his  ordination  to  the 
priesthood,  and  he  set  out  for  Rome  to  complete 
his  preparation  for  his  life  work  in  what  was 
soon  to  be  his  home  across  the  sea. 

HIS   TROUBLES    IN    ROME. 

Professor  Paul,  ?s  Father  Paul  was  then  call- 
ed, experienced  great  difficulty  in  passing  over 
into  Tuscany,  but  on  reaching  the  city  of  Pietra 
Santa  he  met  a  good  friend  who  put  him  on 
board  a  steamer  at  Livorno  bound  for  Civita 
Vecchia,  and  provided  him  with  ample  funds  for 
the  journey.  He  arrived  in  Rome  just  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  revolution  there.  The  success 
of  the  revolutionists  in  France  who  had  just 
driven  Louis  Phillipi  from  the  country,  gave  im- 
petus to  the  revolutionary  spirit  in  Italy.  Pope 
Pius  IX  issued  his  Statute  Fundamentale  March 
14,  1848,  in  an  effort  to  reorganize  the  temporal 
government  of  the  papal  states  by  enlarging  the 
liberties  of  the  people  and  especially  of  the  press, 
but  it  failed  to  have  the  desired  effect.  Up  to 
this  time,  the  pope  had  shown  no  particular  sym- 
pathy with  the  Jesuits,  but  he  endeavored  to  pro- 
tect them  against  the  measures  brought  forward 
for  their  expulsion.  This  angered  a  stronc^  ele- 
ment among  the  revolutionists  and  added  to 
their  fury,  and  was  one  of  the  things  that  led 
to  the  a.nsassination  of  Monsignore  Palma,  the 
pope's  secretary,  whom  Father  Paul  knew  quite 
well. 

During  this  stormy  period  the  father  general' 
ordered  Father  Paul  and  several  other  junior 
Jesuits  to  repair  to  St.  Andrea,  the  famous  Jusuit 
novitiate  at  Rome,  there  to  prepare  for  the  re- 
ception of  holy  orders.  Father  Paul  was  or- 
dained priest  on  March  25,   1848,  by  Constan- 


LIFK  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  ^ 

tine  Patrizi,  then  the  cardinal  vicar  of  the  Pope 
in  Rome. 

Toward  the  end  of  May,  1848,  Father  Paul 
visited  Pope  Pius  IX,  received  his  blessing  and 
departed  on  his  journey  toward  the  land  of  his 
adoption.  His  first  stop  was  in  Turin,  no  doubt 
to  settle  his  family  affairs.  He  next  went  to 
Paris  where  he  arrived  in  the  terrible  days  of 
the  barricades,  but  managed  to  reach  Harve-de- 
Grace  without  mishap,  where  he  boarded  the 
first  sailing  vessel  bound  for  New  York. 

"No  luxury  or  ease  was  there 
To  lap  the  traveler  into  rest, 

But  staunch  it  bore  the  pioneer 
On  tozvard  the  West." 

— ,C.  M.  Harger. 

HIS  JOURNEY  WESTWARD. 

Ocean  vessels  in  those  days  were  not  the  float- 
ing palaces  which  we  now  have  and  which  cross 
the  ocean  in  a  few  days.  And  it  was  not  even 
the  best  one  of  the  times  in  which  Father  Paul 
embarked.  It  was  a  wretched  craft  and  the  sea 
was  stormy  during  much  of  the  trip.  The  trip 
to  New  York  required  forty-eight  days,  and 
they  were  wearisome  days  too.  To  add  to  the 
troubles  of  the  passengers,  smallpox  broke  out 
among  them.  These  trials  and  dangers  were  met 
by  the  young  priest  with  ''unfailing  cheerfulness 
and  unfaltering  courage."  They  were  but  hard- 
ening him  for  other  hardships  which  he  was  to 
experience  on  the  western  prairies. 

Father  Paul  spent  his  first  few  days  in 
America  in  New  York  City,  after  which  he  went 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  spent  a  month  at  old  St. 
Xaxier  college.     About  this  time  nearly  a  hun- 


8  UFK  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL. 

dred  other  Jesuits,  exiles  from  Italy  and  Switzer- 
land, arrived  in  America,  and  about  forty  of 
them,  including  Father  Paul,  were  invited  by 
Rev.  John  A.  Elet  S.  J.,  who  had  been  in- 
stalled as  superior  of  the  vice-province  of  Miss- 
ouri, to  join  the  Jesuit  colony  at  the  St.  Louis 
University.  The  invitation  was  accepted.  After 
a  short  stay  at  the  University  in  order  to  familiar- 
ize himself  with  American  ways,  customs  and 
language,  Father  Paul  was  assigned  to  duty  for 
a  while  at  Bardstown,  Ky.,  where  the  Jesuits 
had  just  opened  St.  Joseph's  College.  A  few 
months  later  he  was  transferred  to  missions  in 
Missouri.  The  records  do  not  show  at  what 
points  in  Missouri  he  was  stationed. 

Father  Paul  left  St.  Louis  on  May  ii,  185 1, 
for  the  country  of  the  Osages.  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
]^diege,  who  had  just  been  consecrated  by  Arch- 
bishop Kendrick  and  assigned  to  the  diocese  of 
Leavenworth,  was  his  traveling  companion  on 
the  journey. 

Modes  of  travel  were  quite  different  when 
Father  Paul  made  his  first  journey  to  Osage  Mis- 
sion from  what  they  are  now.  We  may  now 
take  breakfast  in  St.  Louis  and  eat  supper  in 
St.  Paul  (Osage  Mission)  the  same  day.  Father 
Paul  made  his  journey  up  the  IMississippi  and 
Missouri  rivers  to  Kansas  City  Landing  in  a, 
boat.  From  the  boat  landing  the  remainder  of 
the  trip  was  made  on  horseback  over  the  trail 
made  by  the  freighters  and  Indian  traders.  All 
supplies  at  that  time  were  hauled  to  the  ^lission 
from  Kansas  City  Landing  by  ox  wagons,  and  as 
many  days  were  required  to  make  the  trip  as  it 
now  takes  hours.  No  railroad  had  then  pene- 
trated this  section.  The  boats  on  the  big  streams 
were  much  slower  than  those  of  today,  hence 
the  trip  Father  Paul  had  to  make  to  get  to  the 


LIFE  AND  LETTKRS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  9 

scene  of  his  future  labors  was  a  weary  one  and 
required  several  days.  But  the  welcome  which 
awaited  him  on  his  arrival  was  a  most  agreeable 
surprise.  The  news  of  his  coming  had  prececd- 
ed  him,  and  while  he  was  yet  several  miles  away, 
Indian  couriers  met  him  to  welcome  him  and 
escort  him  to  his  new  home. 

Father  Paul  reached  Osage  Mission  July  4, 
185 1.  Bishop  Miege  accompanied  Father  Pauls 
to  the  Mission  to  look  into  conditions,  for  all  of 
Kansas  was  then  part  of  the  Leavenworth  dio- 
cese over  which  he  had  just  been  placed  in  charge. 
Their  coming  on  this  Independence  day  meant 
much  the  same  for  the  Indians  as  another  impor- 
tant event  of  this  day  meant  for  the  colonists  of 
America  three- fourths  of  a  century  before.  ,It 
meant  the  coming  of  one  who  was  to  liberate  the 
natives  from  the  bondage  of  savagery  and  bring 
them  to  the  ways  of  civilization,  Christianity, 
peace,  happiness  and  plenty. 

Good  Father  Schoenmakers  and  his  small  band 
and  the  few  Sisters  of  Loretto  who  were  here 
joined  with  the  Indians  in  prayers  of  thanksgiv- 
ing for  their  coming,  for  there  was  much  work 
to  do  and  few  to  do  it.  The  above  and  a  few 
scattered  traders  were  the  only  whites  in  this  sec- 
tion then.  Father  Paul's  coming  was  like  pene- 
trating the  wilds  of  an  unknown  land.  The 
scenes  were  far  different  from  those  of  a  royal 
household,  but  this  was  .the  country  he  sought 
when  he  left  his  native  land,  and  he  set  about  his 
worlf  among  the  Indians  with  a  will  and  with 
that  happy  smile  upon  his  face  that  was  for 
years  so  familiar  to  the  people  of  Kansas. 

''He  tried  each  arrt,  reproved  each  dull  delay. 
Allured  to  brighter  ziwrlds  and  led  the  zvayf' 

— Goldsmith. 


10  life:  and  letters  of  father  PAUL. 

HrS    LABORS   AMONG   THE   OSAGES. 

" — 'Tis  time 
New  hopes  should  animate  the  world,  new  light 
Should  damn  from  new  revealings  to  a  race — 
Weighed  down  so  long." 

Father  Paul  soon  learned  the  language  of  the 
''Children  of  the  Prairie"  and  they  soon  learned 
to   love   Father  Paul.     His  services  and  advice 
v^ere  sought  by  all  members  of  the  tribe.     No 
event  occurred   among  them   but  he   was   soon 
informed  of  it.     No  feast  w^as  held  without  him 
as  a  guest  of  honor.     He  was  always  asked  to* 
partake  of  the  ''fruits  of  the  chase"  when  the 
braves   had   returned   from  the  hunt.     He  was 
called  upon  to  administer  comfort  in  times  of 
sadness,  and  to  share  their  happiness  in  times  of 
joy.     When  he  went  on  journeys  they  accom- 
panied him  to  protect  him  from  the  perils  of  the 
then  wild  prairie,  and  from  the  wild  beasts  that 
lurked  in  the  tall  prairie  grass.     He  was  known 
in  every  camp  of  the    Osages,     far    and    near, 
and  it  is  said  that  in  all  his  relations  with  the 
Osages  they  never  distrusted  him  nor  offered  him 
any  bodily  harm.     On  the  contrary  they  looked 
upon   him   as    a    leader,    guide,    and    adviser. 
He  obtained  this  good  will  by  his  kindness,  his 
goodness,  by  always  doing  his  utmost  for  their 
good,  and  by  never  betraying  the  confidence  they 
imposed    in    him.      It    is    true    that   during   the 
pcT^ilous  times  at  the  opening  of  the  civil   war 
Father  Paul,  with  Father  Schoenmakers  and  the 
other  members  of  the  Jesuit  order,  were  obliged 
to  leave  the  Mission  for  a  time  and  seek  safety 
at  St.  Mary's,  Kansas,  but  this  was  made  neces- 
sary by  the  perfidy  of  whites  rather  than  by  the 
Osages,    altho   the    Osages    were    then    divided 


LII^E  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL.  II 

among  themselves,  some  siding  with  the  south, 
and  some  favoring  the  Union.  Most  of  the  boys 
in  the  Mission  schools  above  the  age  of  fifteen, 
joined  the  Union  army.  After  an  absence  of 
eight  months  at  St.  Mary's,  the  Fathers  returned 
to  their  home  at  the  Mission  in  March,  1862,  and 
were  later  instrumental  in  persuading  the  Indians 
from  the  south  to  not  only  spare  the  Mission  but 
also  spare  Humboldt  and  other  towns  farther 
north  which  the  southern  Osages,  and  some 
Cherokees,  who  had  joined  them,  had  decided  to 
raid  and  destroy.  The  close  of  the  war  broiight 
quieter  times,  and  the  old  order  was  resumed. 
Father  Paul  continued  his  work  among  the 
Osages,  administering  to  their  wants,  both  spirit- 
ual and  temporal,  until  1870,  when  the  Osages, 
giving  way  to  the  westward  march  of  civilization, 
sold  their  land  to  the  government  and  moved  to 
the  Indian  Territory,  locating  in  the  vicinity  of 
their  present  home.  Even  then.  Father  Paul  did 
not  give  up  his  labors  among  the  Osages,  but 
visited  them  in  their  new  home  at  frequent  in- 
tervals to  look  after  their  spiritual  wants  and  to 
instruct  and  educate  them.  Thru  his  influence 
they  continued  for  3^ears  afterwards  to  send  their 
children  back  to  the  IMission  to  be  educated. 
Father  Paul's  team  of  ponies  and  white  top  bug- 
gy was  known  to  every  member  of  the  tribe  and 
to  thousands  of  other  Indians  and  white  people 
whom  he  visited  on  his  journeys.  His  guiding 
hand  turned  man}^  an  erring  Indian  as  well  as 
many  a  pioneer  white  man  in  the  right  direction 
and  saved  him  from  threatening  dangers.  To 
this  day  traditions  among  the  Indians  tell  many 
incidents  in  the  life  of  Father  Paul,  and  every 
child  in  the  tribe  knows  much  of  his  history.  As 
an  appreciation  of  his  great  labors,  and  those  of 
good  Father  Schoenmakers,  in  their  behalf,  the 


12  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Osages  contributed  liberally  toward  the  expense 
of  erecting  the  magnificent  St.  Francis'  Church 
which  stands  at  the  east  edge  of  St.  Paul  as  a 
lasting  monument  to  the  early  efforts  of 
these  two  pioneer  Jesuits. 

The  first  time  Father  Paul's  name  appears  up- 
on the  records  of  the  Mission  church  in  an  of- 
ficial capacity  is  at  the  baptism  of  three  Osages 
on  September  i6,  185 1.  The  first  person  baptis- 
ed by  him  at  the  Mission  was  Pelagic,  daughter  of 
Manshasemani.  His  name  was  signed  to  this 
record  as  Paulus  Marie  Ponziglione  S.J.  Howev- 
er he  had  on  August  6,  1851,  baptised  Charlie 
Moquete,  a  French  boy,  in  Coffey  county.  The 
first  funeral  at  which  he  officiated  was  that  of 
Francis  Alexander  Tinker,  on  September  17,1851. 

Beginning  with  1852  Father  Paul  entered  ac- 
tively in  the  parish  work,  it  having  taken  him  a 
few  months  to  master  the  Osage  language.  For 
about  three  years  he  officiated  at  most  of  the 
baptisms,  marriages  and  funerals  at  the  Mission. 
During  these  years  he  began  his  regular  visits  to 
the  various  towns  ofl  the  Osages,  and  other 
Fathers  would  care  for  the  local  parish  during 
his  absence.  His  records  show  he  baptised  per- 
sons in  the  towns  of  the  various  bands  of  the 
tribe,  some  of  which  are  given  here : 

Papin's  town  or  Nartze  Waspe,  Briar's  town 
or  Vacaca  Ougri,  Little  town  or  Mantzeeacke 
Tonwa.  These  were  towns  of  White  Hair's 
band  on  the  Neosho. 

Clairmont,  Black  Dog,  Big  Hill  or  Tanwas- 
hieshie  town.  Tale,  Tei-teio-anco.  These  were 
towns  of  Clairmont's  band  of  Big  Osages  on  the 
Verdigris. 

Little  Bear,  Numpewale,  Citopa.  These  were 
towns  of  Little  Bear's  band  of  Little  Osages  on 
the  Tim.ber  Hills. 


-■X 


¥ 


life:  and  le:tte:rs  of  father  paul.        13 

Other  Indian  towns  visited  by  Father  Paul, 
mention  of  which  was  made  in  his  records  were 
as  follows :  Cally's  town  or  Sanze  Vagrin,  Fail- 
ly's  town  on  the  Verdigris,  Woipoka  town  of  the 
Little  Osages  on  Big  Creek,  Wolf's  town  of 
Black  Dog's  band,  Tishohanka  town,  and  Little 
Osages'  Big  Chief's  town. 

He  baptised  many  Quapaw  Indians  during  the 
early  years  of  his  stay  at  the  Mission,  but  as 
many  of  the  Quapaw  children  were  brought  to 
the  IMission  school  it  is  quite  probable  that  most, 
if  not  all  of  his  work  among  the  Quapaws  was 
done  at  the  Mission.  The  records  show  that 
several  members  of  the  Quapaw  tribe  were  bur- 
ied in  the  Mission  cemetery. 

In  1855  he  visited  the  Little  Osages  then  lo- 
cated in  Bates  county,  Missouri,  and  other  scat- 
tered bands  of  Indians  north  of  the  Mission 
He  speaks  of  visiting  the  Sac  and  Fox  agency  in 
1867  and  the  Kaw  Reserve  in  Morris  county  in 
1870,  the  Cheyenne  Agency  on  the  North  Fork 
and  the  tribes  around  Ft.  Sill  in  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory in  1 87 1.  He  records  visits  to  the  Kaw 
reservation  in  the  Indian  Territory  in  1877,1880, 
1881,  1882,  1884  and  1885.  In  1879  he  was 
among  the  Creeks  and  speaks  of  baptisms  per- 
formed at  Muskogee  and  Ft.  Gibson.  In  1880 
he  made  two  trips  into  the  Indian  Territory.  His 
records  show  he  was  as  far  south  as  McAlester 
and  Savanna,  I.  T.,  this  year,  and  he  mentions 
having  been  at  Vinita  and  Eufaula. 

The  Osages,  however,  were  the  favorites  of 
Father  Paul  and  he  gave  them  his  closest  atten- 
tion, not  only  while  they  resided  in  Kansas,  but 
after  they  moved  to  the  Indian  Territory  he 
made  regular  visits  to  them  every  year  prior  to 
his  departure  for  Milwaukee  in  1889.  He  men- 
tions specifically  having  been  on  Birch  creek,  Big 


14  hl^^  AND  L^TTISRS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Cana  and  Hominy  creek  and  at  Deep  Ford  on 
the  Osage  reservation  in  1877. 

Father  Paul  contributed  liberally  to  the  liter- 
ature of  the  Osages.  He  spoke  their  language 
as  fluently  as  he  did  English  or  Latin,  and  he 
wrote  many  articles  in  that  language.  Wilder 
in  his  Annals  of  Kansas,  says:  "Father  Pon- 
zighone  wrote  an  Osage  prayer  book ;  it  is  own- 
ed by  Dr.  J.  G.  Shea,  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J." 

HIS    LABORS   AMONG   THE   WHITES. 

''His  doinm-hed — a  pallet;  his  trinkets— a  head; 
His  luster — one  taper,  that  serves  him  to  read; 
His  sculpture — the  crucifix  nailed  to  his  bed; 
His  paintings — one  print  of  the  thorn-crowned 

head; 
His    cusions — the    pavement/ that    wearies    his 

knees; 
His  music — the  psalms,  or  the  sigh  of  the  breeze; 
The  delicate  noble  lives  mortified  there, 
And    the    feast    is    forgotten    for    fasting    and 

prayer." 

The  presence  of  the  Jesuits  and  the  Sisters  of 
Loretto  and  their  schools  at  Osage  Mission  caus- 
ed the  early  settlers  in  Southeast  Kansas  to  clus- 
ter around  the  Mission.  This  was  especially 
true  of  those  who  were  Catholics.  The  Mission 
became  the  "trading  post"  of  Southeast  Kansas, 
and  the  country  around  settled  rapidly.  While 
continuing  his  labors  among  the  Indians,  Father 
Paul  did  not  neglect  these  early  settlers.  He 
ministered  to  their  spiritual  wants,  did  great 
work  in  helping  to  lighten  the  sufferings  and 
hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life  on  the  prairies, 
and  likewise  assisted  Father  Schoenmakers  in 
educating:  their  children.     Nor  did  he  confine  his 


life:  and  letti:rs  of  father  PAUL.       15 

labors  to  those  who  settled  near  the  Mission.  As 
the  settlers  began  to  dot  the  prairies  far  and 
near,  he  made  regular  visits  to  them.  Often  he 
would  gather  together  a  few  Catholics  in  some 
settler's  home  and  say  Mass  for  them  and  look 
after  their  general  spiritual  needs.  It  may  be 
said  that  his  parish  at  one  time  extended  north 
almost  to  Kansas  City,  west  far  out  into  the 
plains  country,  and  south  almost  to  the  Texas 
line.  In  time  he  established  regular  routes  and 
covered  them  at  regular  intervals.  On  one  visit 
he  would  tell  the  settlers  when  he  would  be  there 
again,  and  it  is  said  that  he  was  remarkably 
prompt  in  filling  these  appointments.  His  white 
top  bugg)^  became  as  familiar  to  these  settlers 
as  it  was  to  the  Indians  and  its  coming  was  al- 
ways haikd  with  joy.  As  the  settlers  became 
more  numerous,  he  began  helping  them  to  build 
churches  that  they  might  have  better  facilities  for 
conducting  their  services.  He  continued  to  visit 
these  churches  as  often  as  he  could  until,  in  time, 
resident  priests  were  found  to  take  charge  of  the 
work.  In  this  way  Father  Paul  did  a  wonder- 
ful work  for  his  church  in  Kansas  in  the  pioneer 
days.  It  is  on  this  work  that  Humboldt,  Ottawa, 
Neodesha,  Winfield  and  many  other  towns  base 
their  claims  to  him  as  their 'first  parish  priest, 
which  in  fact  he  was.  His  records  mention  vis- 
its in  1857  to  Big  Creek,  in  Coffey  county,  Bur- 
hngton.  North  Fork  of  Pottawatomie  Creek  in 
Anderson  county,  and  Bourbon  county  ''on  the 
creek  called  Little  Pawnee."In  1858  he  speaks  of 
visits  at  Miami  Town,  Kansas  Territory,  Prairie 
City  in  Douglass  county,  Cherokee  Neutral  Land 
on  Walnut  Creek.  In  1859  he  speaks  of  visits 
on  Little  Osage  in  Bourbon  county,  and  at  Co- 
fachigne  in  Allen  county. 

In  the  early  Sixties  he  mentions  several  visits 


l6  LIFK  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL. 

at  LeRoy  in  Coffey  county,  Humboldt,  Fall  Riv- 
er, Emporia  in  Breckenridge  county,  Allen  coun- 
ty about  Osage  City,  Ft.  Scott,  Mount  City  m 
Linn  county ;  also  Owl  Creek  in  Woodson  coun- 
ty, Mackee-chee  postofi^ce  in  Coffey  county,  Ot- 
ter Creek  in  Coffey  county,  Barnsville  in  Bour- 
bon icounty.  Diamond  Creek  in  Chase  county, 
Timber  Hill  in  LaBete  county.  Dry  Creek  in 
Wilson  and  Woodson  counties.  Big  \\'alnut  in 
Butler  county  and  Coyville  in  Wilson  county. 

In  the  Seventies  he  mentions  visits  at  several 
of  the  above  named  places  and  the  following: 
Parkersburg  in  ^Montgomery  county,  Ladore  in 
Neosho  county.  Cedar  Point  in  Chase  county, 
Wichita,  Fredonia,  Neotisha,  Independence, 
Neosho  Rapids  in  Lyons  county.  Grouse  Creek 
in  Cowley  county.  Bird  Creek  and  Turkey  Creek 
in  Butler  county,  jMorgan  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, New  Ark  township  in  Wilson  county,  vSand 
Creek  in  Wilson  county,  Irish  Creek  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Parsons,  Chanute,  Longton 
township  in  Elk  county.  Potato  Creek  in  Labette 
county,  Thayer,  Bolton  and  Cedar  in  Cowley 
county,  Center  and  Sedan  townships  in  Howard 
county,  Winfield,  Salt  Spring  in  Greenwood 
county,  Cherryvale,  Salt  Creek  in  Chautauqua 
county. 

From  1876  to  1880  he  mentions  visits  at  Cof- 
feyville,  Oswego,  Wild  Cat  township  in  Elk? 
county,  Howard  City,  Longton,  Elgin,  New  Al- 
bany, Elk  Falls  township  in  Elk  county,  x\ltoona, 
Erie,  Neosho  Rapids  in  Kansas,  and  Aluskogee, 
Ft.  Gibson,  Eufaula,  McAlesler,  Savanna,  Kaw 
reservation  and  Osage  reservation  in  Oklahoma. 

Father  Paul  also  did  considerable  missionary 
work  in  Missouri.  In  1859  he  mentions  being  at 
Granby  in  Newton  county,  and  also  as  being 
in  Jasper  and  Venion  counties.    In  1861  he  visit- 


LlFli  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  I7 

ed  various  points  in  Jasper  county  and  in  1866 
was  at  Neosho  Town,  in  1868  at  Carthage,  and 
1875  at  Harrisonville. 

From  the  above  list  of  places  it  may  be  seen 
that  he  covered  a  wide  range  of  territory  in  his 
missionary  work.  He  visited  many  of  these 
points  at  regular  intervals  for  several  years, 
quitting  only  when  relieved  by  resident  priests; 
while  to  some  of  these  he  continued  his  periodi- 
cal visits  up  to  1889,  when  he  left  Kansas. 

The  names  of  places  are  spel-led  here  just  as 
they  appear  on  his  records.  Some  of  them  are 
still  known  by  the  same  name,  some  by  a  differ- 
ent name,  and  some  by  the  same  name  dift'erent- 
ly  spelled,  vvdiile  some  have  ceased  to  be  known. 
The  old  log  church  at  Osage  Mission  became 
too  small  to  accommodate  the  people  who  de- 
sired to  worship  there,  and  Fathers  Paul  and 
Schoenmakers  set  about  to  provide  a  more  com- 
modious place  of  worship,  and  together  they  laid 
the  plans  for  the  present  spacious  and  beautiful 
St.  Francis  church.  Much  of  the  work  of  raising 
the  funds  for  the  construction  of  this  church  fell 
upon  the  shoulders  of  Father  Paul.  Having 
charge  of  the  parish  work,  he  therefore  had 
charge  of  all  the  festivals,  fairs  and  entertain- 
ments that  helped  to  raise  money  and  about  fif- 
teen years  were  required  to  bring  the  building  near 
enough  to  completion  that  it  might  be  used  foi 
church  services.  Good  Father  Schoenmakers 
did  not  live  to  see  the  new  church  more  than  half 
completed,  but  Father  Paul  had  the  proud  satis- 
faction of  being  the  celebrant  at  the  Solemn 
High  Mass  on  the  day  of  its  dedication.  May  ii, 
1884.  The  writer  had  the  pleasure  of  being  pres- 
ent on  this  auspicious  occasion. 

Father  Paul  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  schools 
and  gave  them  close  attention  in  all  his  work. 


l8  life:  and  letters  of  father  PAUL. 

When  St.  Francis  Institution  was  incorporated 
he  became  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees  and 
served  in  that  capacity  for  several  years.  On  his 
trips  over  the  country  he  was  ever  alert  for  stu- 
dents for  the  Mission  schools.  Many  boys  and 
girls,  Indians  and  whites,  were  sent  to  the  Mis- 
sion schools  thru  his  solicitation.  He  was  also 
a  frequent  visitor  at  the  schools  and  delivered 
many  lectures  to  the  students. 

A  man  of  remarkable  energy,  fine  ability,  an 
earnest,  tireless  worker,  was  Father  Paul.  He 
bore  hardships  and  exposure  that  would  have 
broken  an  ordinary  man.  He  knew  what  it  was 
to  ride  for  days  at  a  time  across  the  prairies  in 
the  severest  storms  of  winter  or  in  the  burning 
heat  of  summer.  He  knew  what  it  was  to  sleep  on 
the  open  prairie  with  a  laprobe  for  his  bed  and 
the  canopv  of  heaven  for  his  cover.  All  these 
did  not  seem  to  effect  his  health  or  his  disposi- 
tion, for  in  his  old  a2"e  he  retained  a  splendid 
youthful  face  that  did  not  seem  to  grow  old. 
Only  once  do  we  find  a  record  of  him  being  seri- 
ously ill.  In  the  Osage  Mission  Journal,  January 
26,  1876,  the  following  was  printed:  ''Father 
Ponziglione  was  taken  suddenly  and  seriously 
ill  while  celebrating  Mass  at  Independence  last 
Sunday,  and  reached  home  Tuesday  in  an  alarm- 
ing condition.  We  are  informed  this  is  the  first 
illness  the  Father  has  had  for  nearly  a  score  of 
years,  notwithstanding  he  had  endured  great 
hardships  during  that  time." 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  points  in  the 
eventful  life  of  this  remarkable  man  is  that  in 
the  midst  of  his  roaming  life  he  managed  to 
keep  up  his  studious  habits.  He  was  regarded 
as  one  of  the  finest  Latin  scholars  and  writers  in 
the  Society  of  Jesus  which  is  noted  for  its  men 
of  great  learning,  many  of  them  of  world-wide 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OlP  FATHER  PAUL.  I9 

fame.  Father  Paul  wrote  much  Latin  prose  and 
verse,  and  some  of  his  historical  sketches  are  pre- 
served in  the  archives  in  Rome.  A  number  of 
his  articles  have  been  published  in  magazines, 
and  much  of  the  history  of  southeastern  Kansas 
is  based  on  articles  he  wrote.  ^-.  j 

CELEBRATES  HIS  JUBILEE,  :    ■] 

-«   *^1,ul   •,-."' -n.y 

"A  bright,  cheerful,  happy  s^oul;  a  sensative 
heart,  a  temperment  open  to  emotion  and  im- 
pulse; and  ail  this  elevated,  refined  by  the  touch 
of  heaven" — such  was  Father  Paul,  "winning 
followers,  riveting  affections,  by  his  sweetness, 
frankness  and  neglect  of  self." 

One  important  and  happy  event  in  the  life  of 
Father  Paul  was  celebrated  in  Osage  Mission,, 
February  26  and  27,  1889.  It  was  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  his  admission  into  the  Society  of 
Jesus.  St.  Francis  Institution  and  St.  Ann's^ 
Academy  were  at  their  zenith  in  those  days  and 
the  pupils  joined  with  the  people  in  the  program 
of  this  festive  occasion.  The  pupils  of  St.  Fran- 
cis' parish  school  had  charge  of  the  program  in  the- 
forenoon  of  the  first  day,  and  the  pupils  of  St. 
Ann's  Academy  tendered  the  Rev.  Jubilarian  a 
most  fitting  reception  in  the  afternoon.  A  public 
reception  was  given  in  College  Hall  in  the  even- 
ing. A  band  and  an  orchestra  furnished  the 
music.  The  decorations  were  elaborate  and  the 
illuminations  were  brilliant.  About  forty  visit- 
ing clergymen  were  present,  and  the  big  hall  was 
filled  to  its  capacity  with  people.  Speeches  of 
eulogy  were  numerous,  and  the  presents  valuable 
and  appropriate.  Among  the  presents  was  a 
cope  from  the  Osage  Indians  of  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory.    Presents  were  also  received   from  the 


20  LIFE  AND  LKTTKRS  01^  FATHE:r  PAUL. 

parishes  at  Winfield,  Parsons,  Independence  and 
Cherry  vale,  where  he  had  served  as  pastor  before 
resident  priests  were  obtained. 

An  intensely  interesting  part  of  the  program 
was  the  reply  of  Father  Paul  to  the  congratula- 
tions, and  his  acceptance  of  the  presents  tendered 
him.  His  stories  and  reminisences  of  ''Ye  Olden 
Times,"  caused  much  laughter,  at  the  same  time 
conveyed  important  historical  information  of 
pioneer  days  on  the  plains. 

The  religious  part  of  the  jubilee  took  place 
on  the  second  day,  wdien  Father  Paul  was  the 
celebrant  at  a  Solemn  High  Mass  in  St.  Francis* 
church.  Rev.  Plenry  Moeller  S.  J.,  rector  of  the 
St.  Louis  University,  delivered  a  very  appro- 
priate and  eloquent  sermon  containing  allusions 
to  the  life  and  work  of  Father  Paul  which  sent 
thrills  of  emotion  thru  those  who  had  been  wit- 
nesses or  sharers  of  the  ''heats  and  labors  of  the 
day." 

Pope  Leo  Xni  sent  the  following  message 
thru  his  cardinal  secretary,  which  was  read  by 
Rev.  Fr.  J.  R.  Roswinkle  S.  J. : 

"Rome,  February  i,  1889. 
"Rev.  and  Dear  Father: 

"P.  C. 

"The  Holy  Father  very  willingly  grants  his 
special  blessings  to  Father  Ponziglione  S.  J.,  for 
his  Golden  Jubilee  and  to  all  those  present  on 
the  celebration  day. 

"I  join  my  heartfelt  congratulations  and  rec- 
ommending myself  to  your  holy  sacrifices,  I  re- 
main, 

"Yours  in  J.  C. 

"C.  Cardinal  Mazella." 


A  writer  signing  the  article  "T.  A.  D."  wrote 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  21 

the  following  for  the  Neosho  County  Journal, 
dated  January  i,  1889,  relative  to  the  Golden 
Jubilee  of  Father  Paul: 

'*Forty-two  years  ago  there  knelt  at  the  feet  of 
that  grand  Pontiff — the  illustrious  Pius  IX — a 
young  man  in  the  garb  of  a  Jesuit;  there  he  knelt 
with  bowed  head  and  tearful  eye  to  receive  the 
blessings  of  heaven  from  that  venerable  Pontiff, 
and  to  listen  to  the  affectionate  outpourings  of  a 
heart  that  could  fully  appreciate  the  secret  grief 
of  the  soul,  from  his  own  intense  sorrow.  There 
he  knelt  drinking  in  the  sweet  words  of  consola- 
tion ere  he  departed  an  exile  to  home,  country 
and  friends;  banished  from  fair  and  beautiful 
Italy,  because,  foresooth,  he  was  a  religious  and 
doubly  banished  because  he  was  a  Jesuit.  That 
young  man  was  Rev.  Paul  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

*'Born  in  the  little  village  of  Cherasco,  a  few 
leagues  from  the  great  me,tropolis  of  Turin, 
Father  Paul  passed  his  happy  childhood  under 
the  paternal  roof  till  the  age  to  enter  college, 
where  he  spent  ten  years  in  solid  preparation 
for  the  great  hidden  life  before  him. 

"After  a  very  successful  course  in  the  classics 
and  sciences  he  left  his  renowned  Alma  Mater,  to 
seek  in  the  Jesuit  Order,  a  life,  not  of  ease  and 
comfort  and  honor,  but  a  life  of  toil,  privation, 
aye  and  even  exile,  for  soon  the  fierce  persecu- 
tion of  the  'Carfonari'  drove  not  only  him  and 
his  humble  colleagues  from  their  homes,  but  even 
the  revered  Pontiff  whose  paternal  benediction 
he  had  so  lately  received.  And  now  bidding  one 
long,  sad  farewell  to  the  land  of  his  birth,  he 
seeks  on  other  shores  that  hospitality  denied  to 
him  on  his  own,  and  thus  'Sunny  Kansas'  be- 
comes to  him  'The  Gem  of  the  World.' 

''Forty  years  ago  in  company  with  Bishop 
Miegs — also  a  Jesuit — he  entered  the   State  of 


22  LlKlv  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Kansas  and  made  St.  Mary's  their  first  episcopal 
see.  On  July  4,  1851,  the  Bishop  and  Father 
Paul  entered  Osage  Mission,  and  were  greeted 
by  Fathers  Shoenmakers,  Bax  and  Hiemans, 
who  were  then  the  only  secular  priests  in  that  vast 
region.  From  thenceforth  Osage  Mission  be- 
came the  center  of  his  great  work  and  the  re- 
sults are  wonderful.  Sixty  missions  which  he 
established  all  over  Kansas,  and  even  in  Missouri 
and  the  Indian  Territory,  testify  to  the  indefati- 
gable zeal  and  energy  of  this  renowned  pioneer 
missionary.  Many  of  those  missions  are  today 
the  most  flourishing  of  our  cities.  Besides  this 
great  record  of  building  up  religion  and  churches, 
in  totally  unknown  regions,  he  can  add  to  his 
laurels,  the  distinguishing  honor  of  having  assist- 
ed at  the  foundation  of  as  many  more  missions. 
From  an  ably  written  article  in  the  Topeka  Gom- 
monzvealth  of  last  week,  we  extract  the  foPow- 

''  'The  record  of  this  man's  life  is  his  noblest 
panegyric.  Mere  words  of  praise  would  fall  flat 
after  the  recital  of  such  self  denial,  such  hard- 
ships as  these  records  suggest.  Father  Pon- 
ziglione  still  retains  the  vigor  of  youth,  altho  71 
years  of  age.  In  spite  of  the  many  harships  he 
has  passed  thru  he  has  scarcely  known  the  mean- 
ing of  the  word  sickness,  as  far  as  he  is  himself 
concerned.  The  great  monument  of  his  life, 
in  which  is  his  greatest  pride,  is  the  magnificent 
church  and  college  at  Osage  Mission.  The  lat- 
ter is  always  crowded,  and  each  year  many  stu- 
dents are  refused  because  of  lack  of  room.  The 
old  church  which  was  torn  down  last  summer 
was  the  first  one  erected  in  Eastern  Kansas.  It 
was  replaced  by  a  three  story  building  for  col- 
lege purposes.'  " 


wet  AND  LETTERS  OF  TAT  HER  PAUL.  23 

Poems  of  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  Rev.  Father 
Paul  M.  Ponziglione  S.  J.,  read  at  the  celebra- 
tion: 

SALUTATORY. 

(anonymous.) 

Thou  hast  not  vainly  tilled  a  thankless  land 
Nor  hast  thou  aimless  turned  from  side  to  side; 
Thou  hast  not  built  upon  the  moving  sand. 
Nor  cast  bright  seed  upon  the  flowing  tide. 

Full  fifty  stars  that  light  the  flood  of  times; 
Full  fifty  hymns  that  rise  in  strains  sublime 
Out  vf  the  happy  past;  full  fifty  isles 
All  steeped  in  Beauty's  glow  and  bathed  in  smiles. 

From  kindly  Heaven;  full  fifty  Angels  fair, 
Crowned  zmth  soft  lilies  and  sweet  violets  rare, 
These  are  the  symbols  of  thy  Rosary 
Of  years — the    type    of    things    that   guild     thy 
Jubilee. 

LITTLB  GIRLS'  GRBBTING. 

(miss  MAGGIE  BARNES.) 

As  He  called  ''the  blest"  babe  in  olden  days 

"The  little  ones  come  unto  me," 
So  our  voices  are  first  to  strike  tuneful  lays 

Upon  this,  thy  ozvn  Jubilee. 

Likewise  may  we  please  and  a  moment  beguile, 
Wen  tho  words  do  so  feebly  speak. 

How  happy  we'd  be  to  gain  only  your  smile — 
Your  blessing  we  graciously  seek. 


24  IvlFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

O,  long  may  your  pathway  beside  ours  remain 
As  pledge  of  God's  goodness  given; 

Until  wafted  home  zve  relinquish  our  claim. 
In  the  hope  we  shall  meet  in  Heav'n. 

,    HAPPY  HEARTS. 

(anonymous.) 

Happy  heart  and  none  more  happy, 

Than  the  heart  zve  Ibved  and  knezv, 
In  our  childhood's  guileless  moments. 

And  Ziehen  yet  our  years  zverc  fezv, 
When  each  hour  zvas  like  the  ripple, 

Passing  o'er  the  zvoodkmd  stream, 
Brightened  zinth  the  sun's  ozvn  splendor. 

Naught  reflecting  but  his  beam. 

Faitliful  heart  and  none  more  loving. 

Than  thh  heart  zire've  later  knozvn; 
Heart  by  Jesus'  oziHi  heart  cherished, 

Next  to  Jesits'  all  our  ozini. 
Angels  looking  dozvn  from  Heaven, 

See  no  spectacle  more  fair, 
Barth  has  not  mid  all  her  trea-sures 

Aught  zvith  thee  that  can  compare. 

Happy  hearts  of  fondest  parents, 

N'ozv  in  Heazjcn  among  the  blest; 
Happy  as  their  eyes  this  morning. 

On  their  dear  son  proudly  rest. 
Joyous  nozv  as  life  is  zmning, 

'Bre  his  numbeiied  yeafs  are  gone. 
Honored  'mongst  the  Lord's  anointed, 

Lo!  they  see  their  vested  son. 

Happy  heart,  fond  as  a  fathei''s. 
Grateful  hearts  of  children  dear, 


life:  and  letters  of  father  PAUL.  2^ 

Gladdened  on  this  feast  returning, 

Bringing  in  the  'Fiftieth  year." 
Fifty  years — how  szviftly  vanished! 

Time's  veiled  hand  hath  graved  thy  brow, 
Happy  hearts  if  thou  art  with  us, 

Many  more  as  thou  art  now. 

'7UBILBB  POBUr 

(miss    MAGGIE    BARNES.) 

Not  SO  bright  in  setting  the  sun  appears, 
Than  the  gloiiies  of  your  well-spent  life  now  shine. 
For  full  five  decades  of  full  golden  years. 
Around  your  heart  in  peaceful  memory  twine. 

O  priest  among  priests  who  from  great  Pius  won. 
The  blessing  priced — the  boon  from  childhood's 

friend; 
A  benediction  givn  to  Ignatius'  son. 
To  guide  and  guard  you  safely  unto  the  end. 

Wert  destined  in  alien  climes  to  roam, 
Lo!  here  your  aged  presence  preserves, 
While  younger  hearts  lie  still  within  the  tomb, 
And  keep  the  vigil  of  the  Vale  of  Tears. 

SiO  may  Heaven  zve  pray,  still  spare  you  long. 
And  shed  nezv  joys  upon  your  hallozt^ed  way. 
Redoubling  years  like  some  szueet  rythmic  song. 
Glad,  ling'ring  echoes  of  your  ''Jubilee  Day." 

May  it  be  thus,  and  when  life's  ebbing  sands 
Have  run,   and  you  henceforth   no   more  shall 

roam. 
May  your  last  greeting  come  from  angel  bands, 
Your  soul's  bright  escort  to  the  Heavnly  home. 


26  UFE  AND  LDTTKRS  OF  FATHEiR  PAUL. 

JUBILBB  POBM.  , 

TO   REV.    p.    PONZIGLIONE,    S.    J. 
(by  rev.  JOHN  MASTERSON  S.  J.) 

Bull  fifty  years  ago  and  far  away 
Beneath  fair  Italy's  cloudless,  matchless  sky, 
While  tuneful  birds  announced  the  hfeaking  day, 
And  szvarthy  peasants  toiling  carr oiled  merrily. 

Lo!  in  the  college  chapel,  calm,  serene, 
A  young  scholastic  prostrate  low, 
The  central  figure  in  the  solemn  scene 
Prepares  to  seal  his  hopes  by  triple  vow. 

Chaste  as  the  Angels  pure  hi  Heaven's  choir, 
And  win,  thus  armed,  a  bright  eternity. 
To  be  e'en  poor  as  Christ  he  must  aspire, 
Obedient  too — as  Christ — henceforth  to  be, 

No  useless  tear  stands  glistening  in  his  eye. 
No  idle  purpose  zvakens  in  his  heart, 
But  nozv  he  longs  at  duty's  call  to  die, 
O"'  e'er  in  truth's  defence  sustain  his  part. 

Soon  comes  the  call  to  mingle  in  the  strife. 
And  fearless  battle  in  truth's  holy  ground; 
Then  seeming  dazmts  the  chance  to  lay  down  life. 
But  passing  leaves  him  seized  a  captive  bound. 

The  froziming  prison  next  receives  the  youth. 
And  persecution  fain  would  cozvardly  unite; 
The  young  and  valiant  champion  of  truth. 
And  make  him  grieve  for  combating  for  right. 

The  brief  ordeal  ends  and  freedom's  light. 
Dawns  fair  illusion  looming  far,  as  while 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL.  2/ 

Yet  in  the  respite  swift  must  be  his  flight, 
A  long  farewell  to  Italy— exile. 

Across   the  main  where  freedom   holds   proud 

sway, 
Years  of  holy  preparation  passed; 
Lo!  dawns  a  welcome  memorial  day 
That  sees  our  hei  o,  Father  at  last. 

O  priest  of  God,  be  humble,  pure  and  brave, 
A  vessel  of  election  must  thou  be; 
O  bless  him.  Mother  Church,  'tis  his  to  save 
Myrads  of  souls  and  faithful  be  to  thee. 

In  thy  vast  vineyard  for  full  forty  years, 
In  regions  lonely  named  and  savage  west; 
Mid  sufferings  many  and  oft  mid  anxious  fears, 
He'll  toil  and  bide  this  hour  of  peaceful  rest. 

Afar  beyond  proud  civilisation s  pale, 
Where  no  abode  but  wigzvams  meet  the  eye, 
His  seal  uncowed  must  follozv  up  the  trail 
And  conquer  in  the  task  or  falling,  die. 

Anon  he  comes  zvhere  Shoshones  chase  the  deer; 
Anon  faith's  mysteries  to  Cherokees  reveals; 
Then  latei'^ — the  roving  pioneer, 
Or  on  the  plain  alone,  and  lost  he  kneels. 

Where  cluster  lodges  'neath  the  spreading  birch 
And  near  Neosho's  waters  there  is  raised. 
The  central  cross,  and  in  the  humble  cimrch 
By  Osage  zvorshippers  the  Lord  is  praised. 

Look  zvhere  yon  temple  meets  the  gaze; 
His  toil  to  raise  it  up  the  Angels  know, 
And  all  those  toils  it  mutely  now  repays. 
And  stand  his  seal's  memorial  here  below. 


28  life:  and  letters  of  FATHKR  PAUL. 

Thus  tzvo  score  years  arid  more  have  glided  by. 
But  gone  leave  peace  and  glory  in  their  wake, 
B'en  as  at  eve  the  golden  tinted  sky 
Is  seen  reflected  in  the  placid  lake. 

And  nozv  this  evening  in  the  fiftieth  year, 

Of  the  lifell-spent  life  of  this  thy  cherished  son 

We  bid  thee,  Mother  joyous  to  cheer 

Its  closing  days  and  crozvu  the  triumph  he  zvon. 

His  zvas  the  task  the  str'aying  soul  to  keep. 
And  his  the  drooping  heavy  heart  to  raise. 
His  to  sustain  the  poor  desponding  weak. 
His  thus  to  fill  the  measure  of  his  days. 

Well  might  immortal  laurels; — his  brow 
On  each  unfading  leaf. 
Bach  heod'fs  fond  sentiment  azvakened  now 
And  leave  it  shining  as  the  stars  of  night. 

Such  are  our  thoughts  thus  gathered  here  this  eve. 
Our    hearts    more    prilled    than    zvell    deserved 

renozvn, 
Such  do  zee  bring  thee.  Father  Paul,  and  leave 
Our  God  above  to  give  the  golden  crozvn. 

ODE. 

(by  rev.   T.   a.    butler,   of   ST.   LOUIS.) 

Life  zvas  fresh,  like  flozcers  azvakening. 

In  thy  bright  Italian  clime; 
Fair  as  dawn  of  morning  breaking 

Seem'd  to  light  the  coming  time; 
Barth  and  sea  and  skies  above  you 

Caught  the  rosy  tinted  glozu; 
Kindred  zvliispered,  'Taul,  I  love  you!" 

More  than  fifty  years  ago. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  EATHER  PAUL.  29 

But  the  Lord  of  all  has  spoken 

Sweeter  zvords  than  hmnan  tongue, 
Ties  of  kindred  must  he  broken, 

Heai/n  is  pleased  zcith  hearts  so  young; 
Paul  is  call'd,  and  soon  we  find  him 

Where  Ignatius   soldiers  grow; 
Ah,  he  left  the  zvorld  behind  him 

Fully  fifty  years  ago! 

Left  the  palace — left  the  college — 

Left  the  sacred  shrines  of  Rome; 
Full  of  faith  and  zeal  and  knowledge, 

Sent  to  seek  a  pmirie  home; 
Sent  across  the  rolling  ocean, 

Out  where  Kansas  rivers  flozv;  ^ 
Ah!  hozv  strong  that  priest's  devotion. 

Nearly  fifty  years  ago. 

Few  the  homes  in  days  departed — 

Praise  home  zvhen  Paul  zvas  young; 
Then  the  Indian — lion-hearted — 

On  the  plains  his  blanket  flung, 
Fezv  the  farmers  on  the  prairies, 

Indians  wander'ed  to  and  fro, 
By  Saint  Francis',,  by  Saint  Mary's, 

Fifty,  forty  years  ago. 

On  the  plains  the  Father  greets  them. 

In  their  zuigwams  preacheth  peace; 
Smiles  zvith  joy  zvhere'er  he  meets  them, 

Causes  firy  feuds  to  cease; 
Bends  the  proud  to  ozvn  a  Master, 

Leads  zvhere  heav'nly  graces  flow 
At  the  feet  of  Christ  the  Pastor, 

Happy  forty  years  ago. 

pair  thou  seem  est  Osage  Mission! 
Born  again  to  brighter  days! 


30  U^K  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Standing  now  in  strong  position 
Tell  thru  time  thy  soldier  s  praise. 

But  forget  not  thru  the  ages, 
While  Neosho's  waters  flow, 

Paul,  apostle  of  O sages, 
More  than  forty  years  ago! 


FATHER    PAUL    LEAVES    THE    MISSION. 

''Leave  us  not — leave  us  not, 

Say  not  adieu; 
Have  we  not  been  to  thee 

Tender  and  true? 
Take  not  thy  sunny  smile 

Far  from  our  hearth; 
With  that  sweet  light  will  fade 

Sunmner  afid  mirth. 
Leave  us  not — leape  us  not 

Can  thy  heart  roam? 
Wilt  thou  not  pine  to  hear 

Voices  from  homef 

— Hermans. 

In  1889  the  provincial  of  the  Jesuits  decided 
he  had  a  greater  need  for  the  services  of  Father 
Paul  elsewhere,  and  about  August  5,  1889,  Father 
Paul  left  his  home  of  many  years  for  his  new 
labors  at  Marquette  College,  Milwaukee,  Wiscon- 
sin. There  were  many  heavy  hearts  in  Osage 
Mission  that  day,  and  hundreds  of  people  were 
at  the  depot  to  bid  a  sorrowful  farewell  and  God 
speed  to  the  venerable  priest  whom  they  had 
known  so  long  and  well.  On  that  day  there  de- 
parted from  Kansas  one  of  the  noblest  men  that 
ever  lived  within  its  borders,  and  one  who  had 
done  the  State  greater  service  than  men  who  have 
been  given  a  greater  place  in  its  history.   Father 


UFK  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL.  3 1 

Paul  labored  for  humanity  and  the  greater  glory 
of  God,  without  thought  of  self,  and  hundreds 
of  his  deeds  were  so  quietly  performed  that  his- 
tory will  never  know  of  them. 

He  brought  to  Kansas  more  than  his  religion. 
His  work  and  that  of  his  associates  was  the  be- 
ginning of  moral  force  in  Southeastern  Kansas. 
They  spread  education  and  culture  and  founded 
the  first  churches  and  schools  for  which  Kansas 
has  since  become  famous.  They  placed  the  wel- 
fare of  men  above  gain,  and  without  selfish  in- 
terests, they  remained  true  to  their  cause  to  the 
end,  laying  a  fitting  foundation  for  the  material 
welfare  of  the  state  in  after  years.  Their  work 
was  so  well  done  that  thd  Mission  became  known 
as  "the  cradle  of  civilization"  in  the  Neosho  Val- 
ley. 

The  last  official  act  of  Father  Paul  at  St. 
Francis'  church  was  the  baptism  of  Stella  Kin- 
ley,  on  August  4,  1889. 

A  writer  signing  the  article  S.  A.  D.,  writing 
for  the  Neosho  County  Journal,  August  i,  1889, 
pays  this  tribute  to  Father  Ponziglione: 

''The  news  of  Father  Ponziglione's  removal  to 
Milwaukee,  proved  quite  a  shock  to  this  com- 
munity. While  just  at  the  prime  of  life.  Father 
Paul  penetrated  into  these  wilds.  Ignoring  the 
privations  and  sufferings  of  a  prairie  home,  he 
became  the  'black  gown'  of  the  Osage  Indians 
and  with  them  passed  the  best  days  of  his  man- 
hood. As  with  the  coming  of  a  Jesuit,  civiliza- 
tion's stamp  is  crested  so  the  Indian  camping 
ground  in  course  of  time,  became  a  thriving  vil- 
lage, and  tho  every  vestage  of  antiquity  has  giv- 
en way  beneath  the  hand  of  time,  still  the  record 
of  a  life-long  sacrifice  was  lovingly  beheld,  while 
the   hoary-head   of   the   pioneer   priest,   bent   in, 


32  LIFK  AND  LE:TTi:rS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

daily  adoration  at  the  foot  of  the  altar  of  St. 
Francis  D'Hieronimo. 

"It  was  hoped  that  the  land  hallowed  as  the 
seat  of  his  early  labors,  would  be  further  sanciti- 
fied  as  that  of  his  last  resting  place,  but  relentless 
fate  has  not  willed  it  so.  While  the  companion 
of  his  toils,  Father  Schoenmakers,  sleeps  the 
sleep  of  the  just  within  sight  of  his  former  home, 
Father  Paul  yet  possessing  a  remarkable  vitality, 
willingly  resumes  other  duties,  and  the  future 
will  behold  him  in  a  new  mission,  where  a  fair 
city  lifts  its  proud  dome  to  the  sky. 

"Father  Ponziglione  has  grown  old  in  the 
service  of  the  Lord.  Upon  February  last  nu- 
merous friends  greeted  him  as  the  saintly  jubilar- 
ian  who : 

''Sent  across  the  rolling  ocean 
Out  where  Kansas  rivers' flow, 

sancitified  the  'great  west''  by  his  princely,  yet 
humble  bearing  as: 

''Paul,  Apostle  of  O sages 
More  than  forty  years  ago. 

"Little  did  the  abrupt  parting  that  erst  awaited 
in  the  misty  future,  intrude  upon  the  loving 
hearts  of  his  faithful  subjects,  for  it  was  their 
fond  wish  that  his  pathway  might,  thru  coming 
years,  beside  theirs  remain  as  a  pledge  of  God's 
goodness. 

''The  kind  wishes  of  the  entire  parish  accom- 
pany our  priestly  friends  in  their  journeys  o'er 
the  many  quicksands  and  unseen  shoals  of  life, 
trusting  that  the  bright  pilot  of  hope  may  attend 
their  every  voyage,  and  finally  anchor  them  at 
the  port  of  eternal  rest,  in  the  home  of  God's 
elite — Heaven." 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  33 

ACTIVE    LIFE    IN    THE    NORTH. 

''Come  ye  children  and  hearken  to  me, 
I  unll  teach  you  the  fear  of  the  Lord." 

Father  Paul  spent  only  a  few  months  at  Mil- 
waukee, during  which  time  he  was  employed  as 
Spiritual  Father  at  Marquette  College  and  as 
assistant  in  the  parish  work  at  Holy  Name 
church.  In  the  letters  he  wrote  to  friends  at  the 
Osage  ^Mission  he  carefully  refrained  from  men- 
tion of  his  duties  or  labors. 

In  1890  Father  Paul  was  sent  to  St.  Stephen's 
Mission  in  Wyoming.  Some  authorities  say  he 
w^as  sent  to  assist  in  quieting  trouble  which  had 
arisen  among  the  Crow  Indians,  but  the  writer  is 
unable  to  verify  this  statement.  Mr.  Brewster, 
whose  able  biography  of  Father  Paul  was  pub- 
lished by  the  Kansas  Historical  Society,  is  one 
of  the  above  authorities.  He  also  stated  that 
^Montana  was  the  scene  of  his  western  labors. 
Wyoming,  however,  appears  to  be  correct,  for  in 
the  Osage  Mission  Journal,  dated  December  lo, 
1891,  the  following  appeared: 

"A\>  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  letter 
from  Rev.  Father  Paul  M.  Ponziglione  S.  J., 
dated  December  2nd,  at  Creighton  College,  Oma- 
ha. He  informs  us  he  has  been  recalled  from  St. 
Stephen's  Mission  in  Wyoming  and  is  enjoying 
the  hospitality  of  Creighton  College  while  wait- 
ing for  word  to  go  to  a  new  destination." 

A  few  days  after  the  above  was  written  Father 
Paul  was  directed  to  report  at  St.  Ignatius  Col- 
lege, Chicago,  where  he  was  assigned  to  the 
position  of  historian  in  the  College.  He  retain- 
ed this  position  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  and 
was  regarded  as  standard  authority  on  points  of 
history. 


34  LII^^  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Besides  being  historian  to  St.  Ignatius  College 
Father  Paul  exercised  his  priestly  functions  in 
the  capacity  of  assistant  pastor  at  the  Holy  Fam- 
ily church,  and  even  after  he  had  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  four  score  years  he  continued 
to  hear  confessions,  go  on  sick  calls  and  sing 
High  Masses  as  he  did  in  his  younger  years. 

Shortly  after  reaching  Chicago  Father  Paul 
saw  the  need  of  work  among  the  people  of  his 
own  native  country  then  residing  in  Chicago  and 
in  1892  he  organized  the  Guardian  Angel  school 
which  later  became  known  at  the  Guardian  Angel 
Italian  Mission.  His  school  prospered  from  the 
first  and  in  a  few  years  became  known  as  the 
largest  parish  school  in  the  world,  having  a  daily 
attendance  of  2,500  children.  In  connection  with 
this  he  organized  a  Sunday  school  for  the  Italian 
children  and  this,  too,  grew  rapidly  until  it  ac- 
quired the  distinction  of  beine  the  largest  Sunday 
school  in  the  world. 

Father  Paul  was  also  chaplain  of  the  deaf 
mutes  at  the  Epheta  School  at  St.  Joseph's  Home, 
Chicago.  He  organized  two  sodalities  among 
the  pupils  of  this  school,  one  for  the  young  men 
and  the  other  for  the  young  ladies.  The  sign 
language  was  used  in  all  the  sermons,  psalms  and 
prayers.  He  also  found  time  to  give  much  as- 
sistance to  the  Visitation  and  Aid  Society,  and 
Father  Hoeffer  speaks  of  Father  Paul  as  the 
"ever  venerable  but  ever  young-hearted  Catholic 
Chaplain  of  the  Bridewell." 

Could  there  be  a  more  striking  refutation  of 
the  theories  of  Dr.  Osier,  than  the  remarkable 
achievements  of  Father  Paul  in  Chicago,  after 
his  still  more  remarkable  work  as  a  pioneer  mis- 
sionary on  the  plains?  He  had  already  passed 
the  allotted  span  of  three-score  and  ten  years 
when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Chicago,  yet 


life:  and  letters  of  father  PAUL.  35 

few  men  in  an  entire  life  accomplish  as 
much  as  he  did  during  the  eight  years  he  spent 
in  that  city.  His  mind  was  clear  and  active  un- 
til the  last,  and  it  was  only  when  the  call  of  death 
came  that  he  ceased  his  labors  here  on  earth. 


FIFTY  YEARS  A   PRIEST. 

"Ah!  how  strong  that  pries fs  dev^otion 

Fully  fifty  years  ago."  — Butler. 

Father  Paul's  second  golden  jubilee,  the  fifti- 
eth anniversary  of  his  ordination  to  the  priest- 
hood, was  held  in  Chicago,  March  23  to  25,  1898, 
at  St.  Ignatius  College.  This  celebration  was  ob- 
served in  rather  a  quiet  way,  yet  not  without  that 
imposing  grandeur  and  splendor  which  would  do 
honor  to  the  jubiliarian.  A  reception  was  held 
at  the  College  with  music,  speeches  and  the  pre- 
sentation of  gifts.  .  Two  thousand  people  attend- 
ed the  Solemn  High  Mass  offered  by  Father  Paul 
in  the  Holy  Family  church  in  thanksgiving.  Rev. 
Father  Roswinkle  S.  J.,  who  knew  well  of  the 
great  life-work  of  Father  Paul,  both  in  Chicago 
and  in  the  west,  delivered  the  sermon  of  eulogy. 

The  members  of  St.  Paul,  (Osage  Mission) 
Kansas,  parish  sent  Father  Paul  a  fine  gold 
chalice  as  a  token  of  their  friendship  and  esteem. 
Rev.  Father  Peter  Hanley  C.  P.,  then  rector  of 
the  Passionist  Monastery  at  St.  Paul,  Kansas, 
carried  the  present  and  the  greetings  of  the  old 
parishioners  to  Chicago  and  personally  oresented 
them  to  Father  Paul. 

In  response.  Father  Paul  sent  this  message 
back  to  his  old  friends  who  still  remained  at  the 
"Mission": 


36  LIlfE  AND  LE:TTe:RS  of  FATHI:r  PAUL. 

"Chicago,  March  2^,  1898. 
''Very  Rev.  Peter  Hanley, 

"Dear  Father : — Please  tell  the  people  of  your 
congregation  that  I  am  most  thankful  to  them 
for  the  very  nice  chalice  they  have  been  so  kind 
as  to  send  me,  as  a  token  of  their  affection.  In- 
deed I  cannot  forget  any  of  them  for  their  names 
are  written  in  my  heart.  And  tho  I  always  have 
them  present  when  I  am  at  the  altar,  I  shall  have 
them  in  a  particular  manner  on  the  25th  inst. 
when  I  shall  make  use  of  chalice  they  sent  me. 

"May  God  bless  all  my  dear  friends  and  you 

in  particular. 

;  "Paul  M.  Ponziguonk  S.  J." 

•  "■  ♦     ;ic     %^ 

Father  Paul  passed  from  this  life  to  his  eternal' 
reward,  at  St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago,  Wed- 
nesday evening,  March  28,  1900,  of  bronchial 
pneumonia,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two 
years,  one  month  and  seventeen  days.  Surround- 
ed by  his  co-workers,  and  with  a  crucifix  in  his 
hands,  his  last  words  were  a  prayer  to  the 
Heavenly  Father,  whom  he  had  so  faithfully 
served.  Thus  "fittingly  ended  the  life  of  a  truly 
"grand  old  man;"  a  man  who  had  devoted  his 
many  years  to  serving  God  and  laboring  for 
humanity. 

The  funeral  was  held  at  the  Holy  Family 
church,  Chicago,  March  30,  1900,  and  he  was 
buried  in  the  Jesuit  cemetery,  and  "countless 
thousands  mourned." 

"Thus  he  died,  the  gfeat  A  pestle, 

Far  away  in  regioiu  west; 
By  the  lakes  of  the  Algonquins 

Peacefully  his  ashes  rest; 
But  his  spirit  still  regards  us 

From  his  home  among  the  blest."  : 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  EATIIER  PAUL.  Z7 

INTERPRETER  AIDS   IN   A  CONFESSION. 

"Fearless  of  danger,  to  falsehood  a  stranger, 
Ltooking^not  back  when  there's  duty  before! 

He  shall  be  nearest,  he  shall  be  dearest, 
He  shall  be  first  in  our  hearts  evermore!" 

— Charles  Mackay. 

In  the  early  seventies  Father  Paul  received  a 
''sick  call"  from  an  Irish  family,  which  had  lo- 
cated south  of  where  Vinita,  Oklahoma,  now 
stands.  In  the  round  trip  journey,  he  covered 
near  one-hundred  and  fifty  miles.  On  his  ar- 
rival at  the  home  of  the  Irish  family,  he  found 
a  lady  making  a  mighty  effort  to  stay  the  Hand 
of  Death,  with  poor  prospects  of  success.  Father 
Paul  prepared  to  hear  the  sick  woman's  confes- 
sion, only  to  discover  that  she  could  speak  only 
in  the  tongue  of  her  native  land,  Ireland,  not  one 
word  of  which  could  he  understand.  It  was  truly 
a  perplexing  situation.  H'e  had  never  before 
heard  a  confession  thru  an  interpreter,  but  in 
this  case  it  was  his  only  recourse,  and  he  had  no 
time  to  spare.  A  man  who  could  speak  both 
Irish  and  English  was  called  to  his  aid,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  the  interpreter,  Father  Paul 
heard  the  confession,  after  which  he  administer- 
ed the  "last  sacraments  of  the  church,"  which 
this  pius  woman  sought  to  comfort  her  dying 
hours. 

ENCOUNTERED   THE    BENDERS. 

A  narrow  escape  from  death  at  the  hands  of 
the  notorious  Bender  family  was  one  of  the  ex- 
periences of  Father  Paul  which  indicated  that 
he  lead  what  some  people  might  term  a  "charm- 
ed" life. 


38  LiFi:  AND  LETTKRS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

The  Benders  were  among  the  most  brutal  of 
the  numerous  outlaws  that  infested  the  prairies 
of  southeast  Kansas  in  the  early  seventies.  Greed 
for  gain  led  them  to  adopt  all  kinds  of  under- 
handed methods  to  acquire  wealth,  and  many- 
foul  and  bloody  crimes  were  committed  by  them 
to  accomplish  their  purpose.  This  was  before 
the  advent  of  the  Anti-Horse  Thief  Association 
ir  Kansas,  and  before  civil  officers  were  numer- 
ous, so  the  Benders  carried  on  their  brutal  work 
for  months  before  an  end  was  put  to  their  career. 

Railroads  were  few  in  Kansas  in  those  days 
and  towns  were  far  apart.  Indian  ponies  pro- 
vided the  chief  mode  of  travel.  Travelers  fre- 
quently found  themselves  on  the  wide  prairie 
wdien  night  came.  The  Benders  had  established 
a  wayside  inn  on  their  homestead  between  Osage 
Mission  and  Independence  for  the  avowed  pur- 
pose of  accommodating  these  travelers. 

Father  Ponziglione,  late  one  evening  in  the 
early  spring  of  1873,  stopped  at  the  Bender  home 
while  homeward  bound  from  a  trip  to  the  dis- 
tant Indian  villages,  with  the  intention  of  remain- 
ing until  morning,  that  he  and  his  ponies  might 
rest. 

The  Bender  home  was  a  crude  affair,  typical 
of  the  times,  and  anything  but  an  inviting  place. 
A  loose  curtain  divided  the  first  floor  of  the  log 
house  into  two  small  rooms.  The  ceiling  was 
low  and  the  walls  rough.  The  brutal  nature  of 
the  inmates  was  indicated  by  their  countenances, 
and  their  actions  were  queer.  Father  Ponziglione 
observed  all  these  things  at  a  glance.  He  also 
noticed  ''Old  Alan"  Bender  place  a  large  hammer 
behind  the  curtain  near  where  the  supper  table 
was  spread,  and  afterward  hold  a  consultation 
with  his  daughter  Kate  who  was  later  nicknamed 
*'The  Tigress." 


LiFi;  AND  L^STTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  39 

Work  on  the  big  church  at  Osage  Mission  had 
been  started  and  Father  Paul  often  received 
donations  from  friends  to  aid  in  its  construcjiion. 
On  this  occasion  he  had  what  was  then  call- 
ed a  considerable  sum  of  money  on  his  person. 
The  Benders  knew  the  nature  of  his  work  and 
probably  had  surmised  the  presence  of  the  money 
and  were  planning  to  get  it.  Their  actions  ap- 
peared to  the  noble  missionary  to  forebode  evil, 
and  the  outlook  was  far  from  pleasing  to  him. 
An  unknown  voice  appeared  to  be  telling  him  to 
*'go,"  and  his  ponies  were  restless  and  refused 
to  eat.  The  mysterious  disappearance  of  three 
or  four  other  men  who  had  recently  traveled  this 
way  recurred  to  his  mind  and  added  to  liis  un- 
easiness. He  decided  to  "go,"  tired  as  he  was. 
He  allayed  suspicion  by  pretending  to  look  after 
his  team,  made  a  hasty  departure  without  waiting 
for  supper,  and  was  beyond  pursuit  before  his 
absence  was  discovered.  A  few  weeks  later  the 
murder  of  Dr.  York  led  to  the  discovery  of 
the  Bender  crimes  and  to  the  finding  of  seven 
bodies  buried  in  the  garden.  It  was  then  that 
Father  Paul  realized  how  near  he  came  to  being 
numbered  among  those  found  in  the  Bender 
graveyard,  and  understood  the  source  of  the 
warning  voice. 

PREACHED  STRONG  SERMONS. 

"He  hade  me  act  a  manly  part,  tJio  I  had  ne'er  a 

farthing 
For  unthoiit  an  honest,  manly  heart  no  man  was 

worth  regarding^  — Burns. 

While  Father  Paul  was  not  famous  for  his 
eloquence,  he  preached  sermons  that  went 
straight  to   the  point.     This   is  illustrated  in  a 


40  LIFK  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHIvR  PAUL. 

story  an  old  timer  told  the  writer  on  himself. 
This  old  timer  is  still  living,  in  a  distant  state, 
but  spent  much  of  his  life  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  In  the  early  days  he  was  much  of  a 
rover,  and  was  counted  as  one  of  the  "boys"  in 
his  youth.  In  fact  he  seldom  went  near  a  church 
and  it  is  hinted  that  he  spent  some  time  dodging 
officers.  He  came  to  Osage  Mission  in  an  early 
day,  and  with  his  wife,  who  was  a  faithful 
Catholic,  he  a-ttended  church  in  ithe  old  log 
church.  Father  Paul  preached  a  sermon  that 
da}^  that  "drove  home"  to  the  mind  of  this  then 
young  man  some  striking  but  to  him  unpleasant 
truths.  In  telling  of  the  event  to  the  writer,  the 
old  timer  spoke  about  as  follows,  as  near  as  vv^e 
can  remember: 

"I  had  been  scouting  for  some  time  and  had 
just  arrived  at  the  Mission.  My  wife  prevailed 
on  me  to  attend  church  with  her.  I  didn't  care 
anything  about  it  but  went  to  please  her.  Father 
Paul  preached.  I  had  never  seen  him  before. 
You  have  noticed  that  the  eyes  of  a  person  in  a 
picture  always  appear  to  be  looking  straight  at 
you.  Well,  it  appeared  to  me  that  Father  Paul 
was  looking  straight  at  me  and  was  preaching 
that  sermon  for  my  special  benefit.  The  way  he 
poured  "hot  shot"  into  me  was  a  caution  and  I 
soon  became  so  mad  I  wanted  to  fight  him.  It 
required  all  the  will  power  I  could  muster  lo 
keep  my  seat.  Of  course  he  knew  nothing  about 
me,  was  not  looking  at  me  more  than  at  any 
other  person,  and  it  was  the  same  sermon  he 
would  have  preached  had  I  not  been  there,  but 
I  did  not  take  it  that  way.  On  the  way  home  m.y 
wife  asked  me  how  I  liked  the  sermon.  1 
couldn't  hold  in  any  longer  and  the  way  I  turned 
loose  was  a  caution.  The  subject  was  brought  up 
again  at  the  dinner  table,  and  among  other  things 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  EATHER  PAUL.  4 1 

I  sail  Father  Paul  was  a  liar  and  Fd  like  to 
thrash  him.  A  relative  suggested  that  I  would 
not  say  these  things  to  Father  Paul,  I  had  been 
around  quite  a  bit  and  I  thought  I  knew  about 
as  much  as  the  best  of  them,  and  I  said  I  would 
say  it  to  him  and  more  too  if  I  got  a  chance.  My 
wife  had  come  here  before  I  did  and  she  knew 
the  man.  She  arose  from  the  table  and  told  me 
to  come  with  her.  We  went  to  the  log  house 
where  Father  Paul  roomed  in  the  second  story, 
which  was  nothing  more  than  a  loft,  and  my  wife 
introduced  me  to  him.  He  greeted  me  kindly 
with  his  characteristic  smile.  My  wife  told  him 
I  had  called  in  question  his  sermon  and  she  had 
brought  me  to  him.  She  also  told  him  that  I 
had  once  been  a  Catholic.  He  told  my  wife  to 
go  over  to  IMother  Bridget's  and  wait  until  I 
came.  Then  I  began  by  "telling  him  a  few 
things."  1  talked  "straight  from  tiie  shculder" 
and  I  did  not  mince  words.  I  told  htm  a  lot  of 
the  things  he  said  in  that  sermon  were  false. 
Father  Paul  kept  perfect  control  of  himself  dur- 
ing my  tirade.  Then  in  a  good  natuied  way  he 
told  me  some  things.  We"  had  it  up  and  down" 
for  about  an  hour.  He  knocked  my  boasted 
knowledge  sky  high.  I  soon  found  I  was  no 
match  for  him  at  all  The  result  of  it  was  that 
I  knelt  down  there  before  him  and  made  the  first 
confession  I  had  made  in  many  months,  and 
while  I  have  not  been  a  saint  since,  I  have  re- 
frained from  repeating  some  of  the  things  I  had 
been  doing  before." 


"His  zvit  in  the  combat,  as  gentle  as  bright, 
Never  carried  a  heart-strain  azvay  on  its  blade 


>) 


42  LIFE  AND  LE^TTERS  OI'  FATHER  PAUL. 

SLEPT  WITH   RANCHMEN. 

''Upon  the  prairie,  as  the  sun  is  Mking 
I  see  the  cabin  of  the  pioneer." — Ironquil. 

Father  Paul,  in  his  travels,  always  stopped  at 
whatever  house  he  came  to  at  nightfall,  altho  he 
usually  calculated  to  arrive  at  the  home  of  some 
family  he  knew  to  spend  the  night.  He  well 
knew  the  conditions  of  the  settlers  in  the  thcLi 
pioneer  country,  and  realizing  their  accommoda- 
tions were  necessarily  limited,  he  always  accept- 
ed whatever  hospitality  was  offered,  with  grati- 
tude and  a  smile. 

An  Osage  Mission  young  lady  who  was  a 
school  teacher  in  the  west  part  of  Neosho  county 
in  the  early  eighties  told  the  writer  this  story: 

She  was  boarding  with  a  ranchman  who  em- 
ployed a  number  of  men.  These  men  all  board- 
ed with  the  ranchman.  Most  of  them  were  rough 
youngsters  who  had  come  west  to  gratify  an  ad- 
venturous spirit  and  to  seek  their  fortunes, 
while  some  of  them  had  come  west  to  escape 
from  the  officers  of  the  law.  These  men  all  had 
sleeping  quarters  in  a  separate  building.  About 
dusk  one  evening  Father  Paul  drove  up  and  ask- 
ed for  the  privilege  of  remaining  until  morning, 
which  was  readily  granted.  He  was  homeward 
bound  from  a  long  journey  to  the  west,  and  he 
and  his  team  were  so  weary  from  travel,  they 
needed  rest  badly.  Father  Paul  was  a  splendid 
conversationalist,  with  a  great  fund  of  knowledge 
of  the  plains  and  he  spent  the  time  after  supper 
most  pleasantly,  ^^■hen  he  expressed  a  desire 
to  retire  he  was  told  to  go  to  the  other  building 
and  sleep  with  the  men.  He  assented,  and  with 
a  smile,  this  man  of  royal  blood  spent  the  night 
in  a  hut  with  a  bunch  of  strangers,  his  "downy 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  43 

couch"  being  two  blankets  on  the  clapboard  floor. 
The  table  fare  on  many  occasions  was  no  more 
fastidious  than  the  sleeping  quarteis.  x\n  early 
settler  who  still  lives  not  far  from  the  "Mission" 
relates  a  story  Father  Paul  told  many  years  ago. 
The  good  father  had  traveled  all  day  without 
finding  anything  to  eat,  and  his  breakfast  had 
not  been  a  sumptuous  one.  Late  in  the  after- 
noon he  came  to  an  Osage  wigwam  where  he 
was  heartily  welcomed.  An  Osage  woman  whom 
he  had  known  for  years,  set  about  to  make  "some- 
thing extra"  for  their  visitor.  The  parlor,  sit- 
ting room,  dining  room  and  kitchen  were  all-  in 
one  room  and  Father  Paul  sat  near  by  resting 
while  the  meal  was  being  prepared.  The  woman, 
after  mixing  the  bread,  used  her  thigh  for  a 
kneading  board,  then  baked  the  bread  before  the 
camp  fire.  The  only  comment  the  good  Father 
would  make  was :  "It  is  wonderful  what  a  man 
can  eat  with  a  relish  when  he  is  real  hungry." 

LOST  ON   THE   PRAIRIE   DURI'NG   BLIZZARD. 

"So  zvhen  he  cmne  to  Kansas,  strong  and  fearless, 
Fate  had  no  terrors  zvhich  he  dare  not  face; 
A  soldier  in  the  vanguard  of  the  race. 

He  did  his  share  to  make  his  c^nnti\  peerless." 

— Ironquil. 

Father  Ponziglione  did  not  hesitate  to  go 
where  duty  called  him,  regardless  of  the  weather. 
On  one  occasion  he  came  near  losing  his  life  in 
a  Kansas  blizzard  on  the  prairie  between  Win- 
field  and  Howard.  In  those  days  there  were  few 
fences  and  the  roads  between  towns  were  merely 
trails  across  the  country.  The  good  Father  was 
on  his  way  home  from  a  long  trip  in  the  "south- 
west country"  v/hen  a  "northerner"  came  up,  and 


44  LIFE  AND  LKTTi;rS  of  father  PAUL. 

with  it  came  a  driving  snow  which  soon  covered 
all  traces  of  the  trail.     The  broad  prairie  was 
one  wide  expanse  of  white.     He  was  not  very 
familiar  with  the  country  and  lost  his  way.    He 
kept  driving  but  came  in  sight  of  no  habitation. 
In  due  time  his  horses  became  so  weary  from  the 
long  trip  in  the  storm  that  they  could  go  no  far- 
ther.    They  stopped  in  a  valley  with  the  back  of 
the  buggy  to  the  wind  that  it  might  afitord  some 
protection  from  the  storm.     The  Father  was  so 
cold  he  could  do  nothing  for  his  horses.     There 
•he  was  out  on   the  open  prairie,   he  knew  not 
where,  with  his  horses  exhausted,  a  storm  raging 
and  no  aid  in  sight.     Neither  he  nor  his  horses 
had  had  anything  to  eat  since  morning,  and  night 
was  coming  on.     There  he  sat  in  his  buggy,  tell- 
ing his  beads  when  Abe  Steinberger,  now  of  Ok- 
lahoma, but  at  that  time  a  Kansas   newspaper 
man,  came  along  on  his  way  to  How^ard  from 
Winfield,    driving   a   team   of   big   horses.      Mr. 
Steinberger  told  the  writer  of  seeing  the  buggy  a 
short  distance  off  the  trail  and  going  to  it.    'The 
good  Lord  will  take  care  of  me,"  was  the  reply 
the  Father  gave  his  inquiry  as  to  how  he  came  to 
be  there,  but  he  was  so  cold  he  could  hardly  speak 
this  loud  enough  to  be  heard  in  the  storm.     Mr. 
Steinberger  helped  the  Father  into  his  own  bug- 
gy, wrapped  him  in  a  buffalo  robe,  tied  his  horses 
behind  his  buggy  and  proceeded  to  Howard.  Half 
pulling  the  horses  behind,  they  made  slow  pro- 
gress but  reached  Howard  just  after  dark.    Fath- 
er Ponzigliorie  was  put  to  bed  in  a  hotel  and  giv- 
en ''hot  drinks,"  and  altho  no  serious  results  fol- 
lowed his  experience,  he  was  not  able  to  proceed 
homeward  for  nearly  a  week. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  45 

KEPT   "THE    FAITH"   ALIVE. 

A  man  who  had  once  lived  near  the  ''Mission," 
told  a  story  that  showed  the  watchful  care  Father 
Paul  exercised  over  the  widely  scattered  Catho- 
lics of  the  early  days. 

This  man  was  traveling  thru  the  Flint  Hills  of 
Kansas,  then  very  sparsely  settled.  Night  over- 
took him  far  from  human  habitation  save  one, 
that  of  a  woman  and  her  son  living  in  a  one-room 
cabin.  The  traveler  was  not  favorably  impress- 
ed with  the  surroundings  and  retired  for  the 
night  with  some  misgivings  and  a  feeling  of  un- 
easiness, for  it  was  a  time  that  tried  men's  nerves 
and  strangers  were  looked  upon  with  suspicion. 

A  curtain  separated  his  bed  from  the  rest  of 
the  room.  Soon  there  came  to  his  ears  the  low 
voice  of  prayer — the  mother  and  son  repeating 
the  rosary.  With  a  feeling  of  relief  and  of  se- 
curity he  fell  asleep.  The  next  morning  he  ask- 
ed his  hostess  how  she  kept  her  faith  alive  so 
far  from  church  and  religious  associations.  "Oh," 
she  said,  ''Father  Ponziglione  never  fails  to  visit 
us  at  least  once  a  year." 

A   BOGUS   NEPHEW. 

Good  things  are  the  only  kind  counterfeited. 
There  is  nothing  to  be  gained  from  imitating  the 
other  kind.  The  fact  that  a  thing  is  counter- 
feited is  proof  of  its  excellence.  As.  with  things, 
so  it  is  with  men.  Only  good  men  are  made 
the  subject  for  imposters.  A  bogus  priest  trav- 
eled over  part  of  Kansas  in  the  early  days  claim- 
ing to  be  a  nephew  of  Father  Paul.  He  wanted 
to  make  a  living  without  much  labor,  and  he  took 
advantage  of  the  people's  generosity  towards 
Father  Paul  to  g^ather  in  favors  for  himself. 


46         LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

One  of  the  families  imposed  upon  by  this 
bogus  priest  was  that  of  Timothy  Lynch,  then 
residing  near  Howard,  Kansas,  from  which  place 
they  later  moved  to  St.  Paul.  The  bogus  priest 
baptised  one  of  their  children.  When  they  later 
learned  of  the  imposition  they  wrote  Father 
Paul  about  the  validity  of  the  baptism  and 
received  the  following  reply  from  him,  dated 
Osage  Mission,  Neosho  County,  Kansas,  May  ^22, 
1886: 

"Your  favor  of  the  20th  instant  came  to  hand. 
To  what  concerns  the  Baptism  of  your  child  by 
an  imposter,  calling  himself  my  nephew,  all  I 
can  say  is  that  Baptism  is  always  valid  no  mat- 
ter by  whom  administered,  provided  that  he  who 
administers  it  does  it  in  the  right  way.  At  pres- 
ent, however,  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  those 
who  are  out  of  the  Catholic  Church  ■go  adminis- 
ter this  sacrament  in  the  proper  way.  So  in 
your  case  I  would  advise  you  to  speak  on  the 
subject  to  your  priest.  For  myself,  I  think  I 
would  have  the  child  baptised  again  on  condition, 
for  I  do  not  believe  in  the  sincerity  of  that  man 
who  went  around  calling  himself  a  priest  and 
imposing  on  the  credulity  of  poor  simple  Catho- 
lics.   May  God  bless  you  all. 

'Taul  M.  Ponziglione  S.  J." 

MISTAKEN    FOR   A   SPY. 

During  the  war  Father  Paul  was  arrested  on 
suspicion  that  he  was  a  rebel  spy.  The  following 
account  of  the  event  was  obtained  from  the  sol- 
dier who  was  detailed  to  make  the  arrest : 

"In  the  fall  of  1863,  the  report  became  current 
that  the  rebels  were  planning  another  raid  into 
Kansas,  and  Colonel  Knowles  was  sent  out  vv^ith 
a  detachment  of  troops  from  Fort  Scott  to  Mar- 


LI^E  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  47 

maton,  where  there  was  already  a  considerable 
body  of  men  gathered  to  repel  the  threatened 
invasion.     Pickets  were  sent  out,  and  everything 
was  put  in  readiness  to  give  Mr.  Reb  a  warm 
reception.     I  belonged  to  the   loth   Kansas  in- 
fantry.   Word  was  sent  to  Colonel  Knowles  that 
a  suspicious  looking  character  was  seen  riding 
towards  the  southwest,  and  the  supposition  was 
that  he  was  a  rebel  spy.     Colonel  Knowles  at 
once  ordered  me  to  saddle  my  horse  and  go  in 
pursuit,  and  bring  the  man  to  his  tent.    I  at  once 
set  out  and  determined  to  catch  the  man.    After 
riding  five  or  six  miles,  I  came  in  sight  of  that 
rnan.     I  increased  my  speed  and  was  soon  along 
side  the  object  of  my  pursuit.    I  commanded  him 
to  halt,  which  he  did.     i  directed  him  to  right- 
about face,  as  he     had    to    report    to     Colonel 
Knowles.    We  then  took  the  back  track.    He  was 
reading  a  book  when  I  first  approached  him.  This 
he  put  away  after  he  became  my  captive.    When 
we  arrived  in  Marmaton,  I  at  once  reported  to 
Colonel  Knowles,  who  asked  my  prisoner  who  he 
was  and  what  he  was  doing  in  those  parts,iand 
what  he  knew  of  the  rebel  invasion,  to  which  he 
replied :     'I  am  a  Catholic  priest.     I  am  on  my 
way  home  to  Osage  Mission.     I  had  an  inter- 
view this  morning  with  Mrs.  Blair.    She  inform- 
ed me  that  she  had  a  dispatch  from  her  husband, 
General  Blair,  that  the  raid  on  Kansas  was  sim- 
ply a  feint ;  that  the  entire  rebel  army  was  then 
marching  to  the  South.'    This  news  was  received 
vi^ith  great  joy  by  us  all  and  Father  Ponziglione 
was  told  to  depart  in  peace. 

*'Two  years  later  I  had  the  pleasure  of  an  in- 
troduction to  the  priest  at  the  home  of  Peter 
Perrier,  on  Big  Creek  in  Neosho  county.  I  made 
the  remark  that  we  had  met  before.  He  looked 
at  me  straight  with  the  remark,  'I  believe  you 


48  LiFlv'  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

are  the  man  who  arrested  me,  and  so  I  became 
a  prisoner  of  war  just  for  a  little  while.' 

"A.  W.  Smith, 
"Independence,  Kansas." 

NARROW    ESCAPE    FROM    DROWNING. 

After  going  to  Wyoming,  altho  an  old  man, 
Father  Paul  continued  his  missionary  work,  and 
met  with  some  trying  experiences.  The  follow- 
ing taken  from  the  Wind  River  Mountaineer^ 
Lander,  AVyoming,  June  25,  1891,  tells  of  his 
narrow  escape  from  drowning: 

''A  few  days  since  Rev.  Ponziglione  undertook 
to  cross  Wind  river  near  the  Mission  and  found 
the  water  (deeper  and  swifter  than  he  expected. 
Before  he  reached  the  middle  of  the  stream  his 
horses  were  forced  to  swim  and  the  wagon  was 
capsized,  throwing  the  driver  into  the  raging 
current.  The  horses  succeeded  in  reaching  the 
opposite  bank  with  the  wagon,  but  a  valise  and 
some  other  loose  articles  on  the  wagon,  as  well 
as  Father  Ponziglione  were  hurled  downward 
by  the  current.  Some  Indians  standing  on  the 
bank  saw  the  accident  and  without  a  moment's 
hesitation  plunged  into  the  turbulent  water  and 
covered  themselves  with  glory  by  rescuing  the 
drowning  priest.  But  for  the  presence  of  the 
Arapahoes  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  cur- 
rent would  have  been  too  strong  for  the  aged 
priest,  and  he  would  have  sunk  never  to  rise 
again." 

FIRST  PASTOR  OF  OTTAWA. 

In  the  year  book  of  Sacred  Heart  Church, 
Ottawa,  Kansas,  published  by  Rev.  O.  E.  Degan 
in  1909,  the  following  appeared : 


LIFE  AND  LKTTl-RS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  49 

"In  185 1  Rev.  Paul  Alary  Ferrero  Ponziglione 
di  Borgo  d'  Ales,  a  descendent  of  the  royal  Ital- 
ian Families  Guerras  and  Ponzigiiones,  began 
his  missionary  labors  in  southeastern  Kansas. 
In  1854  he  visited  the  Chippewas  and  Appahoos- 
es  in  Franklin  county,  establishing  missionary 
stations  for  the  Chippewas  as  well  as  for  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes.  In  1857  he  established  a  mis- 
sionary station  at  Prairie  City,  (now  West  Bald- 
win.) Fie  and  his  companions  established  150 
missions  both  for  whites  and  Indians  in  27  coun- 
ties in  southeastern  Kansas. 

"In  October,  1867,  Fatlier  Ponziglione  S.  J. 
again  visited  Ottawa,  arriving  here  on  horseback 
from  Osage  Mission.  He  stopped  at  the  resi- 
dence of  P.  P.  Elder,  and  inquired  of  Mr.  James 
Halvey,  who  was  employed  by  Mr.  Elder,  con- 
cerning the  Catholics  in  the  neighborhood. 

Alass  was  celebrated  Sunday  morning  in  the 
residence  of  Air.  John  Halvey  at  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Locust  streets.  Among  those  present 
were  Timothy  O'Neil,  Patrick  Hand  and  family, 
James  Flalvey,  John  Halvey  and  family.  Next 
day  Alass  was  celebrated  at  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Hand,  two  miles  southeast  of  Ottawa.  Prior  to 
this  time  when  not  visited  by  a  priest  in  their 
homes,  the  few  scattered  Catholics  living  here,  if 
they  wished  to  attend  Divine  Service,  were  oblig- 
ed to  travel  to  Prairie  City,  Emerald  or  Scipio. 
Altho  other  Priests  had  visited  Ottawa,  they 
came  more  as  Indian  missionaries  before  the 
county  v;as  organized  or  the  city  chartered.  Fath- 
er Ponziglione  may,  therefore,  be  properly  styled 
the  first  pastor  of  Ottawa." 


50  LIFB:  and  letters  of  father  PAUL. 

LARGEST  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  IN  THE  WORLD. 

By  F.  J.  Lyons  in  the  Chicago  Tnhune,  March, 
1910: 

Chicago  has  the  unique  distinction  of  having 
the  largest  Sunday  school  in  the  world.  This  is 
located  on  Forquer  street,  in  the  heart  of  the 
Italian  settlement  known  as  "Little  Italy"  and 
the  story  of  Jts  founding  is  almost  as  interest- 
ing as  the  school  itself. 

On  February  11,  1818,  there  was  born  in  the 
village  of  Cherasco,  one  of  the  most  fashionable 
resorts  in  the  north  of  Italy,  Paul  Ponziglione. 
He  was  descended  from  one  of  the  noblest 
families  of  Italian  royalty.  Tho  of  noble  birth 
he  preferred  the  arduous  life  of  a  missionary  to 
that  of  the  nobility,  and  accordingly  joined  the 
Jesuit  order  at  an  early  age. 

It  was  while  still  a  scholastic  in  the  Jesuit  col- 
lege in  Genoa,  in  1848,  that  he  was  arrested  under 
dramatic  circumstances  by  the  revolutionists,  put 
in  chains,  and  thrust  aboard  a  man  of  war  of  the 
king  of  Sardinia.  After  a  namber  of  thrilling 
experiences  he  at  length  escaped  and  succeeded 
in  reaching  Modena. 

He  at  once  offered  himself  as  a  volunteer  for 
American  missionary  work.  He  was  accepted 
and  went  to  Rome,  whence  he  was  on  the  eve  of 
departing  when  violent  demonstrations  against 
the  pope,  Pius  IX,  compelled  him  to  flee  for  his 
life.  The  youthful  priest  sought  refuge  in  Paris, 
only  to  be  forced  by  the  violent  animosity  of 
the  anti-Catholic  revolutionists  to  seek  safety 
once  more  in  flight.  Taking  passage  for  Amer- 
ica, he  at  length  arrived  at  St.  Xavier's  college, 
in  Cincinnati.    After  a  short  time  he  was  trans- 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  5 1 

ferred  to     Missouri,     then     the     western  pro- 
vince of  the  order. 

Thereupon  he  began  his  missionary  work  among 
the  Indians.  He  was  a  hardy  pioneer  even  tho 
reared  as  a  child  of  royalty.  His  thrilling  ex- 
periences in  the  course  of  his  missionary  labors 
in  the  then  wild  western  states  of  the  frontier 
would  fill  a  book.  After  forty  years  of  this 
strenuous,  eventful  life  he  came  to  Chicago, 
where  in  the  year  1892  he  founded  the  Guardian 
Angel's  school,  now  the  Guardian  Angel's  Italian 
mission,  which'  with  an  attendance  of  more  than 
2,500  children  is  the  largest  in  the  world. 

But  Father  Ponziglione  in  his  own  quiet  way 
was  but  preparing  the  way  for  brilliant  progress 
in  the  work  of  moral  and  social  uplift.  At  this 
juncture  there  returned  to  America  a  brilliant 
young  priest  whose  name,  inseparable  from  the 
moral  and  social  progress  of  the  city,  is  known 
to  every  reader.  He  was  Father  Ehmn,  now 
Bishop  of  Peoria.  He  was  a  Chicagoan  by  birth 
and  his  return  to  his  native  country  and  city 
marked  the  conclusion  of  a  brilliant  course  of 
studies  in  Europe. 

His  spiritual  superiors  perceiving  his  peculiar 
qualifications  at  once  commissioned  him  to  prose- 
cute the  work  begun  by  Father  Ponziglione. 
Looking  about  him  he  saw  the  conditions  and 
environments  of  the  emigrants  from  the  ''sunny 
land  of  olives,"  and  like  his  predecessor,  realized 
that  the  citizenship  of  our  country  demanded  a 
better  quality  than  could  possibly  and  reasonably 
be  expected  from  the  prevalent  conditions. 

Gathering)  a  ''handful"  of  the  bright-eyed, 
dark-skinned  children  of  the  "^American  Italy" 
about  him,  he  began  teaching  them.  Others  came. 
The  little  boys  and  girls  proved  themselves  apt 
scholars  and  slowly  but  surely  the  progress  at- 


52  UFK  AND  IvE:TTi:rS  of  FATHE:r  PAUL. 

tained  assured  success  and  gratified  the  heart  of 
the  zealous  young  priest.  He  redoubled  his  ef- 
forts, if  indeed,  this  were  possible.  In  his  in- 
defatigable zeal  he  forgot  his  own  self-comfort. 
Frequently,^  in  fact,  almost  daily,  would  he  en- 
dure the  privations  of  a  foreign  mission,  for  that 
is,  in  reality,  what  it  was. 

But  the  founders  were  not  destined  to  enjoy 
the  honors  of  their  undertaking  unshared.  Pub- 
lic spirited  men  and  vv^omen  from  all  parts  of  the 
city  offered  themselves  as  volunteers  to  this  do- 
mestic "  foreign  mission."  As  a  result  the  mis- 
sion has  a  staff  of  125  men  and  women  laboring 
for  the  betterment  of  American  citizenship. 

Among  those  prominently  identified  with  the 
undertaking  are  the  Rev.  Pacif  Chenuil,  pastor 
of  the  mission;  the  Rev.  Raschlotti,  D.  D.,  as- 
sistant pastor;  Mrs.  Amberg,  and  William  J. 
Bogan,  superintendent  of  the  mission. 

So  great  has  been  the  growth  of  the  mission 
that  even  the  large  number  of  instructors  above 
mentioned  is  scarcely  sufiicient  for  the  needs  of 
the  institution.  In  like  manner  the  buildings 
are  crowded  to  such  an  extent  that  classes  are 
conducted  in  the  basement;  while  even  such  an 
out  of  the  way  place  as  the  boiler  room  was 
pressed  into  service  as  a  classroom.  In  these 
classes  are  to  be  found  children  of  all  ages,  from 
the  tiny,  bright-eyed  youngster  learning  his  first 
prayers  to  those  of  more  mature  years. 

While  the  religious  aspect  of  this  great  insti- 
tution is  its  most  salient  feature  everything  else 
that  makes  for  the  social  and  moral  uplift  of  the 
children  is  studiously  attended  to.  Thus,  little 
girls  are  taught  sewing.  As  an  incentive  to  their 
work  they  are  permitted  to  retain  the  garments 
they  make.    This  class  numbers  some  four  hun- 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  EATHER  PAUL.  53 

dred  members.  The  expense,  such  as  material, 
etc.,  is  defrayed  by  a  large  donation. 

Another  great  source  of  help  to  the  children 
is  the  library.  By  diligent  work  the  library  com- 
mittee has  succeeded  in  gathering  together  some 
fifteen  hundred  volumes.  That  the  children  are 
appreciative  of  this  feature  of  the  school  is  at- 
tested by  the  fact  that  about  four  hundred  of 
the  books  are  distributed  every  week  and  that 
they  are  becoming  Americanized  by  the  fact  that 
such  books  as  the  life  of  Washington,  life  of 
Lincoln,  and  similar  works  are  most  in  demand. 

The  boy's  club  and  sodalities  of  both  boys  and 
girls  are  means  by  which  the  social  life  of  the 
children  are  strengthened. 

NEWSPAPER   NOTES. 

The  following  extracts  from  newspapers  will 
give  some  idea  of  Father  Paul's  travels  and  work 
during  his  sojourn  in  Kansas: 

''Father  Ponziglione  informs  us  that  on  the 
Verdigris  river  the  flood  swept  everything  before 
it,  and  that  several  families  were  drowned,  and 
much  property  destroyed.  At  Coyville  the  saw 
and  flouring  mills  and  the  dwellings  of  all  the 
citizens  were  fully  half  under  water,  and  the  oc- 
cupants were  driven  to  the  upper  floors  for  safe- 
ty. In  returning  Father  P.  endeavored  to  reach 
Erie,  but  found  that  place  cut  ofif  from  communi- 
cation with  the  outside  world  and  he  could  not 
reach  nor  comfort  them  under  their  affliction. '* 

— Osage  Mission  Journal,  July  15,  1869. 
*     * 

"That  active  and  indefatigable  worker  and 
genial  gentleman,  Father  Ponziglione,  has  just 
returned  from  an  extended  tour  of  over  a  thous- 


54  LlFi:  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHKR  PAUL. 

and  miles,  made  on  horseback,  to  Eldorado,  Au- 
gusta, Wichita  and  numerous  other  towns  on  pa- 
per and  otherwise,  each  of  which  expects  to  be- 
come a  'county  seat,'  a  'commercial  emporium' 
and  a  'railway  center,'  at  least.  From  him  we 
learn  that  the  whole  country  westward  from  here 
is  being  settled  with  unexampled  rapid^ity,and  that 
villages  are  springing  into  existence  and  having 
a  growth  at  once  marvelous  and  real.  Wichita, 
which  last  ^lay  had  but  one  house,  now  contains 
over  a  hundred  of  various  grades  and  seems 
destined  to  be  a  good  and  prosperous  place.  The 
same  is  true  of  Augusta,  Butler  county,  which, 
havinf?  secured  the  location  of  the  U.  S.  land  of- 
fice for  the  new  land  district  recently  created, 
will  assuredly  attain  a  rapid  growth.  The  main 
body  of  the  Osages  is  about  thirty  miles  west 
from  Wichita,  where  they  are  hunting  buffalo, 
which  are  in  immense  numbers  and  fat.  Some 
have  been  killed  within  twelve  miles  of  Wichita.'' 
— Mission  Journal,  August  4,  1870. 

''Father  Ponziglione — We  had  a  very  pleasant 
call  from  this  venerable  and  very  gentlemanly 
Father  of  the  Catholic  Church  last  Saturday 
night.  He  had  just  returned  from  a  long  tour 
thru  the  northwest  counties.  He  reports  ap- 
palling suffering  among  many  people  on  account 
of  the  scarcity  of  food.  Fr.  Ponziglione  has 
traveled  all  over  southwestern  Kansas  and  among 
the  wildest  Indians — including  the  Osages,  Kio- 
was,  Arapahoes,  Comanches,  etc.  He  speakes 
Latin,  Italian,  French,  Spanish  and  other  lan- 
guages and  has  written  several  books  in  Osage." 
—Thayer  (Kas.)  Headlight,  March  10,  1875. 

"While  Father  Ponziglione  was  on  his  west- 
ern trip  last  week  he  had  die  misfortune  to  have 


LII^D  AND  LKTTKRS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  55 

one  of  his  best  horses  die  from  the  effects  of  the 
heat." — Osage  Mission  Journal,  Sept.  6,  1876. 

"Father  Ponziglione  arrived  home  Monday 
from  a  two-week's  tour  to  the  Osage  Agency. 
He  reports  grasshoppers  everywhere." — Osage 
Mission  Jounml,  Oct.  4,  1876. 

"Father  PonzigUone  arrived  home  Thursday 
from  a  three-week's  trip  to  Cowley  county  and 
the  Western  country." — Osage  Mission  Journal^ 

Dec.  13,  1876. 

*     * 

"The  first  building  in  Wilson  county  dedicated 
to  religious  worship  was  the  Catholic  church  on 
Timber  Hills,  northwest  of  Fredonia,  which  was 
reared  eight  or  ten  years  ago  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Jesuit  Fathers  of  Osage  Mission." — Wil- 
son County  Citizen,  May,  1876. 

"Father  Ponziglione  left  here  Monday  for 
Leadville,  Colo.,  from  whence  he  will  make  quite 
an  extensive  tour  thru  the  western  states  and  ter- 
ritories, possibly  extending  to  the  Pacific  coast." 
— Osage  Mission  Journal,  July  7,  1880. 

"Father  P.  M.  Ponziglione,  of  St.  Francis'  In- 
stitution, at  the  old  Osage  Mission  in  Kansas,  vis- 
ited our  town  one  day  last  week.  The  presence 
of  a  Catholic  Priest  in  our  midst  is  such  an  un- 
usual circumstance  that  it  is  like  that  of  a 
strange  bird  blown  by  a  storm  from  some  distant 
island  of  the  ocean.  If  not  the  earliest,  after  the 
discovery  of  America,  the  Catholics  have  been 
the  most  extensive  pioneers  of  Christian  religion 
among  the  Indians.  It  is  claimed,  and  just- 
ly perhaps,  that  they  were  the  first.  The  dangers 
to  which  they  were  exposed  and  the  deprivations 


56  LiFi:  AND  LE:TTERS  of  FATHKR  PAUL. 

which  they  underwent  in  their  early  missions 
among  the  Indians  entitle  their  church  to  the  con- 
sideration of  Christian  zeal  that  is  more  wonder- 
ful than  reasonable  to  the  secular  mind." — 
Cherokee  (Indian  Territory  I  Advocate,  April, 
1882. 

''Father  Ponziglione  arrived  home  Wednesday 
from  a  long  trip  of  350  miles  in  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. He  visited  the  Osages  at  their  agency  at 
Pawhuska  and  found  the  half-breeds  thriving 
and  prosperous,  with  considerable  stock  and  cul- 
tivated lands;  but  the  full-bloods,  since  the  buf- 
falo were  driven  further  away,  have  had  a  hard 
time  in  obtaining  enough  to  live  on  and  are  really 
suffering.  Xo,  the  poor  Indian.'  " — Osage  Mis- 
sion Journal,  April  4,  1884. 

"A  disasterous  and  fatal  mine  explosion  oc- 
curred at  Savannah,  Indian  Territory,  last  week, 
by  which  three  men  lost  their  lives  and  thirty- 
tw^o  others  were  injured.  Father  Ponziglione 
was  called  to  the  scene  of  the  accident  shortly 
afterward.  He  states  that  bix  of  the  injured 
men  cannot  live,  while  many  others  are  maimed 
for  life." — Osage  Mission  JournaL  Feb.  it,  1885. 

''Father  Ponziglione  is  one  of  the  most  zealous 
christians  we  have  ever  known ;  a  man  of  imaf- 
fected  piety,  and  knowing  no  such  word  as  fail- 
ure. The  Catholic  church  owes  more  to  him  than 
to  any  dozen  priests  in  the  state." — 'Howard, 
Kas.,  Democrat,  Feb.  7,  1889. 

"Father  Paul  M.  Ponziglione  passed  thru  Elgin 
on  Tuesday  on  his  way  from  Chicago,  where  he 
has  been  stationed  for  two  years,  to  Pawhuska, 
the  capital  city  of  the  Osages,  which  he  has  for 


life:  and  LKTTERS  of  father  PAUL.  57 

years  taken  so  lively  an  interest  in.  The  good  old 
gentleman  carries  his  seventy-eight  years  lightly 
and  looks  no  older  than  twenty-five  years  ago 
when  we  used  to  see  him  in  his  little  covered 
wagon  on  his  regular  trips  from  Osage  Missiun 
to  visit  the  tribes  on  their  reservation  south  of 
us." — Sedan  (Kas.)  Times-Star,  April  23,  1896. 
*     * 

A  correspondent  of  the  Catholic  Advance 
(published  at  Wichita,  Kansas)  writing  from 
Neodesha,  Kansas,  in  November,  1913,  said: 

"The  first  Catholic  church  in  Neodesha  was 
erected  by  Rev.  Paul  M.  Ponziglione  S.  J.  in  the 
year  of  1876,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Frisco  depot. 
*  *  *  *  Over  sixty  missions  were  establish- 
ed in  Kansas  besides  several  in  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory, which  testify  to  the  indefatigable  zeal  and 
energy  of  this  renowned  missionary.  Many  01 
the  missions  today  are  the  most  flourishing  of 
our  cities.  The  record  of  this  noble  priest's  life 
is  filled  with  many  trying  hardships  and  self  de- 
nials. The  great  monument  to  his  life,  in  which 
he  took  the  greatest  interest,  was  the  college, 
house  and  church  at  St.  Paul.  Rev.  Father  Pon- 
ziglione attended  Neodesha  until  December,  1879, 
and  Father  A.  School,  from  Independence  suc- 
ceeded him." 


CHAPTER  11. 

"THE   APOSTLE   OF   SOUTHEASTERN    KANSAS." 

In  writing  the  history  of  the  CathoHc  Church 
at  Humboldt,  Kansas,  in  1910,  Rev.  Father  John 
J.  Maclnerney  pays  a  glowing  tribute  to  the 
work  of  Father  Paul,  who  was  really  the  founder 
of  the  church  at  Humboldt.  We  quote  here  that 
part  of  this  history  which  we  believe  will  be  of 
interest  to  our  readers,  and  in  line  with  the  sub- 
ject of  this  book: 

IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 

The  early  settlers  who  made  their  venturesome 
way  from  the  four  corners  of  the  e?.-  '^  to  find 
homes  in  what  was  then  an  unbroken  '.viiderness, 
imbued  as  they  were  with  the  laudable  desire  to 
make  the  desert  blossom  as  the  rose,  met  with 
their  full  measure  of  hardship,  as  all  know  who 
are  the  least  familia:  with  history  which  has 
only  too  often  been  written,  in  the  life's  blood  of 
the  hardy  pioneer. 

The  ferries,  crossing  the  Mississippi  into  Kan- 
sas, freighted  with  their  human  cargo,  fought 
and  cut  their  weary  way  thru  huge  boulders  of 
floating  ice,  before  the  prospective  settler  was 
given  even  the  sorry  privilege  of  taking  his  chanc- 
es with  Life  and  Death,  as  a  tiller  of  the  virgin 
soil.  The  Red  Man  held  forth  in  undisputed 
sway  and  little  was  accomplished  toward  the  de- 
velopment of  the  great  natural  resources  of  Kan- 
sas, until  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War. 
(58) 


UFK  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  59 

The  return  of  peace,  the  home  coming  of  the 
surviving  veterans,  ready  and  eager  to  beat  their 
swords  into  plow  shares,  marked  the  dawn  of 
Day  for  Kansas,  but  the  brave  missionaries  of 
the  Catholic  Church  made  their  way  here  when 
the  state  was  enveloped  in  the  darkness  of  the 
night  of  savagery;  when  life  and  living  meant 
one  long  struggle  against  seemingly  overwhelrn- 
ing  odds,  and  when  privation  and  hardship,  in 
unrelenting  fury,  went  stalking  over  the  plains 
like  a  pestilence:  In  those  days,  the  Civil  War 
was  undreamed  of,  even  as  a  most  remote  possi- 
bility, and  the  saving  of  the  souls  of  the  Red  Men 
was  the  only  reward  hoped  for,  the  only  gleam 
of  light  in  the  distance,  in  return  for  the  her- 
culean labors  of  the  followers  of  Christ. 

These  men,  the  missionaries  of  the  CathoHc 
Church,  who  came  out  to  the  fringe  of  civiUza- 
tion  to  "preach  and  teach  all  nations,"  antedated 
the  first  white  settler  by  many  years.  They  crim- 
soned the  barren  plains  with  their  blcod.  and 
when  civilization,  with  its  few  paltry  comforts, 
had  imprinted  its  seal  on  the  territory,  and^  liv- 
ing became  at  least  bearable,  the  valiant  disciples 
made  their  way  still  further  into  the  darkness, 
following  the  trail  of  the  savage,  that  the  "light 
might  shine  for  all  men." 

Cheerful  uncomplaining,  willing,  were  these 
volunteers  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  these  soldiers 
fighting  under  the  Flag  of  Christ,  and  they  lived 
and  kept  their  stout  courage  undaunted,  thruont 
all  the' torturous  years,  because  they  ''drank  of 
the  spiritual  Rock  that  followed  them,  and  that 
Rock  was  Christ." 

History  cannot  make  men,  but  men  make  his- 
tory ;  the  early  Jesuit  missionaries  have  illumined 
the  brightest  pages  of  American  History  with  a 
simple  record  of  their  lives  and  works,  and  in 


6o  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  EAT  HER  PAUL. 

life  as  in  death,  have  they  dowered  the  Catholic 
Church  with  a  heritage  of  immortal  glory.  That 
their  works  hve  after  them,  is  attested  by  the 
spread  of  Christianity,  not  alone  thruout  Kan- 
sas, but  thruout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
continent. 

The  spirit  which  characterized  the  founders 
of  the  great  Order  of  the  Society  of  Jesus — Ig- 
natius of  Loyola  and  Francis  Xavier,  in  their 
work  among  the  savage  tribes  of  their  day,  re- 
veals itself  in  the  labors  of  the  men  who  came  af~ 
ter  them,  and  who  spent  their  lives  among  the  In- 
dians of  southeastern  Kansas.  These  ''Black 
Coats,"  as  they  were  called  by  the  Red  men,  nev- 
er for  one  moment  forgot  the  motto  of  their 
Order — -Ad  Majorein  Dei  Gloriam, — "All  for  the 
honor  and  glory  of  God," — and  they  attracted 
and  won  over  the  savage  tribes  thru  their  preach- 
ing of  Christ  and  Him  Crucified. 

"And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will 
draw  all  things  to  myself,"  might  well  have  been 
written  of  the  work  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries. 

We  read  of  St.  Francis  Xavier  as  he  landed  in 
Goa,  the  capital  of  the  Portuguese  Colony  on  the 
western  coast  of  Hindoostan,  taking  lodgings  in 
the  Capital  and  associating  with  the  poor.  He 
won  over  the  rich,  and  with  bell  in  One  hand  and 
crucifix  in  the  other,  he  exhorted  the  multitude  to 
accept  the  religion  of  the  Cross.  Two  hundred 
thousand  souls  he  brought  under  the  shadow  of 
the  Cross,  the  Flag  of  the  gentle  and  lowly  Naz- 
arene.  The  spirit  of  Xavier  lived  on,  his  work 
continued  in  America,  brought  the  same  glorious 
results,  and  it  may,  in  all  truth  and  justice,  be 
said  that  the  present  progressive  and  triumphant 
march  of  the  Church  in  this  country,  next  to  God, 
owes  itself  to  the  incessant  labors  of  the  Jesuits. 

We  are  not  insensible  to  the  insults  that  have 


I.IFE;  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  6l 

been  heaped  upon  these  men  of  God  by  enemies 
within  and  without  the  fold  and  yet  it  is  not  nec- 
essary to  Hne  up  in  their  defense.  History  stands 
out  luminously  in  their  behalf..  "Not  a  wilder- 
ness was  opened,  nor  a  stream  turned,"  writes 
one  of  the  great  American  historians,  "but  that 
a  Jesuit  led  the  way."  Under  the  teachings  of 
the  Jesuits,  the  savages  became  skilled  in  all 
requisite  mechanical  handicrafts,  learned  in  ag- 
riculture, tutored  in  a  fixed  order  of  life,  and 
under  the  guidance  of  the  "Black  Coats,"  they 
showed  the  sweet  simplicity  of  little  children,  in 
heart,  intellect  and  manner. 

The  Jesuits  became  all  to  all  and  truly  so  ,*  for 
they  learned  from  the  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles, 
from  the  other  eleven  and  from  all  the  men  of 
God,  who  walked  in  their  way,  and  like  them, 
converted  many  unto  justice,  that  in  no  other  way 
could  the  banner  of  Christ  be  so  surely  and  so 
safely  unfurled;  volumes  might  be  written  con- 
cerning the  truly  Christian  zeal  of  these  early 
Jesuit  missionaries  whose  Order  is  well  named 
the  "Society  of  Jesus." — a  body  of  men  who  have 
ever  devoted  themselves  to  carrying  the  Gospel 
to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  whose  deeds  in  the 
history  of  the  Church  shine  like  stars  in  the 
firmament  of  heaven. 

LOOKING  BACKWARD. 

As  far  back  as  1833  the  Second  Council  of 
Baltimore  asked  that  the  various  tribes  of  the 
trackless  waste  be  given  into  the  care  of  the 
Jesuit  Fathers,  and  in  1834,  Rome  so  decreed. 

Rev.  Charles  Van  Quickenborne,  S.  J.,  was 
the  first  priest  to  celebrate  Mass  in  this  part  of 
the  country  and  deserves,  in  consequence,  the 
high  title  of  pioneer  priest  of  southeastern  Kan- 


62  LII^E  AND  IvETTEjRS  O^  FATHE^R  PAUL. 

sas.  Residing  at  Stanislaus,  near  Florissant,  St. 
Louis  County,  where  in  1824  he  had  opened  a 
boarding  school  for  Osage  children,  he  continued 
to  visit  the  Osae:es  from  time  to  time  for  ten 
years  after  they  had  moved  westward  into  Kan- 
sas. In  1827,  he  visited  Trading  Post,  Linn 
county;  Harmony  Mission,  Bates  county,  Miss- 
ouri; Osage  Agency,  Neosho  county,  and  Mar- 
maton,  Bourbon  county.  He  established  many 
missionary  stations  among  the  Osage  half  breeds 
in  the  United  States  Army  Barracks,  and  in  other 
places.  In  1830  he  visited  Grand  Saline,  Indian 
Territory,  and  in  1836,  he  established  the  Kick- 
apoo  Mission,  devoting  the  remaining  years  ot 
his  life  to  the  members  of  that  tribe  of  Indians. 

The  other  Indian  tribes  which  had  been  re- 
moved by  the  government  from  east  of  the  Miss- 
issippi to  Kansas,  also  received  his  attention  and 
care,  especially  the  Pottawatomies  and  Kickapoos. 
Father  Van  Quickenborne  died  August  17,  1837, 
and  his  work  among  the  Indians  in  Kansas,  or 
Missouri  Territory,  as  it  was  then  called,  was 
continued  by  other  Jesuit  Fathers. 

In  1847  the  Pottawatomies  began  to  remove 
to  their  new  reservation  on  the  Kansas  River,  St. 
Mary's  becoming  the  headquarters  of  the  nation. 
As  the  distance  to  the  Osages  was  so  great  that 
it  was  difficult  for  the  Jesuits  to  attend  to  their 
spiritual  needs,  the  Osages  applied  for  resident 
missionaries  and  accordingly,  a  new  mission  was 
opened  among  them.  On  April  28,  1847,  Rev. 
John  Schoenmakers,  S.  J.,  and  his  companions 
reached  the  site  that  had  been  selected  by  Father 
Van  Quickenborne,  one  of  the  missionaries  of  St. 
Mary's  Mission,  and  upon  which  the  Indian  De- 
partment had  built  two  log  houses ;  the  Jesuits 
took  formal  possession  of  the  place,  known 
thereafter  by  the  name  of  Osage  Mission.     The 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  63 

first  church  that  was  dedicated  tp  Ood  in  this 
beautiful  valley  of  the  Neosho,  was  built  the  fol- 
lowing year — 1848 — and  in  1895  the  name  of  the 
mission  was  changed  to  St.  Paul. 

In  those  days,  Kansas  was  a  wild  country, 
an  Indian  Territory,  where,  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  trading  posts,  one  could  not  find  the 
home  of  a  white  man.  Of  the  various  tribes  of 
Aborigines  living  in  Kansas,  the  Osages  were 
the  most  important  nation,  numbering  some  seven 
thousand  souls.  When  the  home  mission  was 
well  arranged,  regular  visits  were  begun  to  the 
Osages  in  their  settlements,  and  missionary  sta- 
tions were  erected  in  the  tract  of  land  now  com- 
prised in  Wilson,  Allen,  Neosho,  Montgomery 
and  Labette  counties. 

W^hen  the  Osage  mission  was  established,  the 
Catholics  in  the  state  fell  short  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  persons,  and  as  laborers  and  mechanics 
became  absolutely  necessary  for  the  development 
of  the  missions,  the  Jesuits  called  in  CathoUcs, 
especially  from  the  western  boundary  of  Missouri. 
These,  seeing  that  nothing  was  to  be  feared  from 
the  Indians,  sent  for  their  families  and  friends. 
They  naturally  gathered  about  the  Mission  house 
and  soon  the  mission  churches  became  too  small 
for  the  growing  congregations.  So,  the  white 
Catholics,  meeting  with  no  opposition,  founded 
settlements  of  their  own,  tho,  up  to  1850,  not  a 
village  of  whites  could  be  found  thruout  all  this 
vast  territory. 

Since  the  opening  of  Kansas  in  1854,  many 
Catholics  settled  in  the  eastern  counties  and  new 
missionary  stations  were  constantly  being  open- 
ed, until  every  border  county  had  finally  its  own 
mission.  The  Osage  lands,  however,  were  con- 
sidered a  Reservation  and  white  people  were  not 
allowed  to  take  up  claims  on  them.     Finally  in 


64  L1F£:  AND  LE;TTKRS  01^  fATHi:R  PAUL. 

1869,  when  the  Osages  ceded  much  of  their  land 
to  the  U.  S.,  a  new  and  a  very 'extensive  territory 
was  opened  to  emigration  and  a  new  field  was 
created  for  missionary  labors.  Thus  in  the  pro- 
gress of  time  135  stations  were  started  from  the 
Osage  missions  in  the  2^]  counties  of  S.  E.  Kan- 
sas, and  gradually  developed  into  flourishing  con- 
gregations. As  soon  as  '  a  station  was  able  to 
afford  the  expense,  a  church  was  built;  about 
these  churches  new  congregations  were  gathered 
and  these  by  degrees  were  transferred  to  the 
Bishop,  who  put  them  in  charge  of  secular  priests. 

Until  1 85 1  all  the  Indian  missions  Vv^ere  under 
the  See  of  St.  Louis,  but  on  March  25,  185 1,  Rev. 
John  B.  Miege,  S.  J.,  was  made  Bishop  and  Vicar 
Apostolic  of  the  Indian  Territory,  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains ;  probably  five  thousand  Catho- 
lics were  included  in  the  entire  domain. 

In  July  of  this  year  the  Bishop  and  Father 
Paul  Mn^y  Ponziglione  arrived  at  Osage  Mission 
and  were  welcomed  by  Father  Schoenmakers,  the 
superior  of  the  mission.  It  was  a  pleasant  meet- 
ing, such  a  one  as  we  find  in  the  times  of  the 
Apostles,  when  clad  in  the  armor  of  Faith,  Hope 
and  Charity,  they  were  about  to  invade  cities  and 
nations  with  the  sword  of  Christ. 

With  the  enthusiasm  of  Paul  of  Tarsus  and 
the  zeal  of  another  Apostle,  Father  Paul  M.  Pon- 
ziglione inaugurated  the  great  work  which  af- 
terwards won  for  him  the  glorious  name  of 
Apostle  of  South  Bastern  Kansas. 

This  great  missionary  made  Humboldt  his 
headquarters  returning  at  intervals  to  offer  up 
the  H,oly  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  for  the  few 
pioneer  Catholics  of  these  days. 

Under  his  charge  St.  Joseph's  church  was  built 
and  the  fir^t  priest  of  our  parish  has  not  only 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL.  65 

made  history  but  started  the  church  in  these  parts 
on  her  glorious  mission  of  peace  and  mercy. 

FATHER  Paul's  missionary  work. 

After  some  minor  duties  had  been  assigned 
him,  in  1851,  he  began  the  principal  work  of  his 
long  life— his  missionary  toil  among  the  Indian 
tribes  in  Southeastern  Kansas— which  he  con- 
tinued  for   forty  long  years,  "faithful  unto  the 

The  following  incident  is  related  as  an  illus- 
tration of  his  earnestness  in  missionary  work : 
He  was  in  the  habit  of  making  long  journies  out 
into  the  West,  and  one  time  was  absent  so  long 
that  bis  Superior  concluded  that  he  must  have 
been  killed  by  the  savages' who  then  inhabited  the 
beautiful  prairies.  Accordingly  an  order  was 
promuli-ated  to  the  effect  that  prayers  should  be 
said  for  the  repose  of  his  soul  and  just  then 
Father  Paul  turned  up.  His  desire  to  save  souls 
and  Dlant  the  cross  thruout  this  Western  coun- 
trv  braved  'all  obstacles  and  rendered  light  a  I 
hardships.  The  true  history  of  his  life  and  work 
will  never  be  written  or  ever  fully  known. 

When  he  entered  the  Order  of  the  Society  of 
Tesus  he  died  to  the  world.  He  was  no  longer  a 
man  with  selfish  longings  and  ambitions,  but  a 
part  of  the  great  Order,  fighting  under  one  head, 
whose  only  aim  is  to  bring  the  work  to  God. 

It  mattered  not  whom  he  met^  Was  it  a  sav- 
age bent  on  his  destruction?  The  Holy  Mass 
would  protect  him.  Was 'it  the  lawless  white? 
Tmatters  not.  Whether  white  or  red  civilized 
or  savage,  his  work  was  before  him  and  that 
work  he  would  do.  .  . 

lL  air  true  missionaries  he  ^o^go*  himself  m 
his  zeal  and  devotion  to  the  cause  of  God,  and 


66  LIFE  AND  LI:TTI:RS  of  FATHI;r  PAUL. 

was  more  anxious  for  the  salvation  of  souls  than 
the  compilation  of  personal  biographies.  It  was 
only  after  repeated  demands  on  the  part  of  his 
superiors  that  he  condescended  to  give  the 
meagre  details  that  we  have  of  his  missionary 
life  and  labors.  The  first  fruit  of  his  own  life 
was  among  the  Indians  who  then  owned  and  in- 
habited this  beautiful  country.  In  the  year  1854 
we  are  told  he  established  three  missions  among 
the  Indians  in  Bourbon  and  Franklin  counties. 
Pushing  on  into  what  was  then  beyond  the  bor- 
der of  civilization,  he  made  converts  and  erected 
an  altar  among  the  "five  nations"  at  Barnesville, 
Bourbon  county;  the  Chippewas  and  Appanoose 
in  Franklin  county.  In  1855  and  1856  he  es- 
tablished three  missions  among  the  Indians  in 
Bourbon  county  and  in  Franklin  county,  and  in 
1855  one  in  Crawford  county  among  the 
"whites."  In  1858  his  labors  were  incessant  and 
the  result  was  fifteen  missions  in  the  following 
places :  Mbund  City,  Greeley,  Anderson  county ; 
Burlington,  Leroy,  Humboldt,  Elizabethtown  and 
lola,  Allen  county;  two  in  Wilson  and  two  in 
Greenwood  counties,  and  one  in  each  of  the  fol- 
lowing counties :  Franklin,  Crawford,  Chero- 
kee and  Woodson. 

During  the  year  1859  besides  visiting  his  form- 
er stations,  he  established  new  one  in  Little 
Osage,  Bourbon  county;  Pleasant  Grove,  Green- 
wood county ;  Granby,  Mo. ;  Defiance,  Woodson 
county,  and  Emporia,  Lyon  county.  In  i860 
two  missions  were  organized,  one  in  Marion  and 
one  in  Allen  counties.  In  1863  the  church  in 
Fort  Scott  was  established  and  Father  Paul's 
diary  shows  another  in  Crawford  county  the  fol- 
lowing year.  In  1866  under  the  supervision  of 
Fathers  Ponziglione  and  Schoenmakers  the 
old  stone  church  in  Humboldt  was  erected — the 


life:  and  letters  of  father  PAUL.       67 

first  substantial  building  within  a  radius  of  many 
miles. 

The  year  1869  saw  six  new  missions  start  into 
life  under  Father  Paul's  unflagging  earnestness, 
among  them  being  the  missions  in  Winfield  and 
Hutchinson  and  a  mission  among  the  Kaw  In- 
dains  in  Council  Grove.  In  1870  he  was  able 
to  leave  his  already  large  congregation  long 
enough  to  make  converts  and  plant  the  standard 
of  the  cross  in  five  new  places.  Eldorado  was 
added  to  the  list  of  towns  where  Catholic  wor- 
ship was  held.  A  mission  among  the  Indian 
Osage  half-breeds  in  Labette  county,  a  mission 
ir  Greenwood,  and  a  church  in  Independence  were 
established.  During  this  year  Father  Paul  pur- 
chased the  site  in  Wichita  on  which  the  Pro- 
Cathedral  now  stands  and  which  is  presided  over 
by  the  able  and  scholarly  Bishop  of  the  Wichita 
diocese. 

Father  Paul  was  now  past  the  meridian  of  life 
and  was  looking  toward  sunset;  one-half  a  cen- 
tury had  passed  since  he  came  into  the  world  in 
that  far  off  village,  in  Italy ;  yet  his  energy  never 
weakened,  his  spirit  never  appeared  weary.  In 
1 87 1  his  grand  missionary  spirit  began  to  reach 
out  to  distant  lands  and  explore  hitherto  obscure 
and  savage  places.  He  established  stations 
among  the  Cheyenne  Indians  in  the  Territory  and 
visited  the  soldiers  at  Fort  Sill.  The  year  1872 
brought  Wellington  into  line  and  the  year  1873 
added  Oxford  in  Sumner,  and  Sedan  and  Elgin 
in  Chautauqua  county. 

Until  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1870,  the 
Jesuits  had  charge  of  most  of  the  missions  in 
Kansas,  tho  data  concerning  their  final  transfer 
to  the  Bishop  are  very  meagre.  On  December 
31,  1871,  Father  Ponziglione  writes,  ''During 
the  summer,  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Miege,  hav- 


68  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

ing  two  new  priests  at  his  disposal,  sent  them 
to  us  that  we  might  station  them  in  some  of  our 
missions.  One  was  placed  at  Baxter  Springs 
and  charged  with  the  care  of  Labette,  Cherokee 
and  Crawford  counties,  besides  a  small  part  of 
the  adjacent  Indian  Territory.  The  other  was 
placed  at  Cottonwood  Falls,  from  which  he  will 
attend  all  stations  established  on  the  Atchison, 
Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  railroad,  from  Emporia 
in  Lyon,  to  Wichita  in  Sedgwick  county.  On 
August  I,  1878,  I  transferred  to  Rev.  Robert 
Luchrer,  sent  by  Right  Rev.  Bishop  L.  M.  Fink, 
the  charge  of  all  the  missions  I  had  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Montgomery,  Elk  and  Chautauqua,  re- 
serving for  myself  the  missions  in  Wilson  county 
and  the  Indian  Territory." 

The  first  Catholic  church  was  erected  in  Cher- 
ry vale  by  Father  Paul  in  the  year  1877  ^^^^  from 
this  year  to  1886  7' he  Great  Missioner  labored 
in  the  Indian  Territory  among  the  Creeks  and 
Osages,  the  Shoshones  and  the  Arapohoes.  In 
the  spring  of  1889,  there  was  much  trouble  with 
the  Crow  tribe  on  their  reservation  in  Montana, 
and  Father  Paul  was  asked  to  go  among  them 
and  use  his  influence  as  a  peacemaker,  which  he 
did  with  marked  results.  In  1891  Father  Pon- 
ziglione  was  called  to  St.  Ignatius  College,  Chi- 
cago, where  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was 
employed  in  pastoral  duties  and  various  works  of 
zeal  and  charity,  especially  aiding  the  poor  and 
lowly  of  that  city.  Pie  died  a  most  edifying 
death  on  March  28,  1900.  Surrounded  by  his 
companions  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  he  kissed 
the  cruciifix  as  death  drew  nigh,  and  said  aloud 
until  the  breath  of  life  has  vanished,  the  acts  of 
faith,  hope  and  charity. 

Thus  ended  the  earthly  career  of  that  sainted 
missioner,  the  Apostle  of  South  Eastern  Kansas, 


uFE  AND  le:tters  of  fathe:r  PAUL.       69 

the  son  of  noble  parentage,  who,  when  life  was 
young,  and  offered  him  all  its  allurements  in  the 
way  of  worldly  place  and  honor,  luxury  and  the 
fleeting  pleasures  of  an  even  more  fleeting  life, 
calmly  cast  aside  all  for  the  robe  of  a  missioner 
of  Christ. 

How  fitting  that  this  great  man  who  relinquish- 
ed all  worldly  honors  and  preferment,  might  be 
permitted  to  carry  the  cross  of  the  Savior  into 
the  wilderness,  to  administer  to  the  poor  and 
lowly  ones  of  this  earth,  and  to  unfold  the  beau- 
tiful stoiy  of  the  gentle  Nazarene  to  countless 
numbers  of  savugc:s  who,  thru  his  ministrations 
came  under  the  beneficent  influences  of  the  cross 
of  Christ. 

During  his  life  Father  Paul  had  some  narrow 
escapes  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians  and  outlaws 
who  frequently  raided  and  ruined  the  homes  of 
the  early  settlers.  Scouring  the  wilderness  with 
his  saddle-bags  or  span  of  dun-colored  ponies 
and  white  canvassed  topped  wagon  every  hard- 
ship was  known  to  him. 

Father  Paul  crowned  his  life's  work  by  build- 
ing the  stately  and  imposing  structure  at  St. 
Paul,  Kansas. 

It  is  true  that  Father  Paul  did  not  shed  his 
blood  like  some  other  Apostles,  neither  did  St. 
Patrick,  the  Apostle  of  Ireland,  yet  who  can 
measure  the  far-reaching  results  of  the  work 
of  the  Irish  Apostle?  Father  Paul  planted  the 
Cross  deep  down  in  Kansas  soil,  and  his  name 
will  forever  go  down  in  the  history  of  this  State, 
as  the  Spiritual  conqueror  of  the  Indian  Tribes. 

There  is  no  sculptor  or  artist,  be  he  who  may, 
that  can  be  compared  to  the  man  who  knows  how 
to  form  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  human  fam- 
ily. It  is  a  work  far  surpassing  the  finest  crea- 
tions in  human  art,  to  reproduce  in  souls  the  liv- 


70  I.IFK  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

ing  image  of  Jesus  Christ.  In  this  work  Father 
Paul  Ponziglione  proved  himself  a  master  and 
won  the  admiration  Of  humanity;  therefore,  dear 
reader,  forget  him  not. 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  NONCATHOLIC^S  COMMENT. 

John  R.  Brunt  published  the  following  in  the 
Neosho  County  Journal,  February  14,  1889: 

From  the  day  Father  Paul  entered  the  little 
log  mission,  on  the  banks  of  the  Neosho,  to  the 
present,  his  zeal  has  only  ^een  equalled  by  his 
work.  Father  Schoenmakers  found  in  him  truly 
an  able  and  willing  coadjutor;  united,  and  hand 
in  hand  they  worked  and  prayed.  In  those  early 
days  the  war-path  was  the  Indian's  joy;  bedeck- 
ed with  beads,  daubed  with  paint  and  mounted 
upon  their  ponies,  they  rode  forth  in  quest  of 
scalps  and  plunder;  then  these  men  of  peace 
would  appear  among  them,  often  at  the  risk  of 
their  lives,  and  by  their  kind  words  prevail  upon 
them,  to  give  up  their  bloody  purpose.  Thus 
many  frontiersmen  and  their  families  were  saved 
from  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife,  and  their 
homes  from  the  flames.  It  was  due  greatly  to 
their  efforts  that  the  Osages  were  restrained 
from  taking  up  arms  against  the  government 
during  our  long  and  bloody  civil  war,  but  re- 
mained comparatively  peacable  while  the  war 
raged  aiound  them.  During  those  dark  and  ter- 
rible days  of  the  war  these  men  remained  at 
their  post,  relieving  distressed,  bleeding  and  the 
hungry  and  caring  for  the  sick.  The  Mission, 
situated  as  it  was,  between  the  contending  forces 
was  constantly  visited  by  soldiers  of  each  army, 
but  whether  he  wore  the  blue,  the  gray,  the 
blanket  of  the  Indian,  he  was  fed;  none  were 
(71) 


y2  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL. 

turned  hungry  away  by  these  friends  of  humani- 
ty, but  all  were  treated  as  sons  of  one  father,  and 
therefore  brethren.  Their  good  works  are  rec- 
ognized by  all.  Towns  and  villages  were  de- 
stroyed both  north  and  south  during  those  dread- 
ful days  of  internicene  strife,  but  the  Mission 
was  not  harmed  by  either  side. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  1865,  the  Great  and 
Little  Osages,  by  treaty,  ceeded  to  the  United 
States  a  part  of  their  land,  a  tract  fifty  miles 
square  including  Neosho  and  Labette  counties, 
and  in  the  consideration  of  the  kindness  and 
great  benefits  they  had  received  from  the  Jesuit 
Fathers,  they  insisted  that  two  sections  of  land 
covering  the  ^Mission  and  improvements  should 
be  patented  by  the  government  to  the  Fathers 
for  the  church  and  schools,  thus  giving  them 
beautiful  and  valuable  real  estate  propeity,  and 
placing  the  institution  on  a  firm  basis.  Since 
that  time  improvement  has  been  rapidly  going  on, 
and  each  succeeding  year  sees  some  new  addition 
made.  At  the  present  time  St.  Francis'  church 
is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  village 
churches  in  the  United  States,  and  is  equalled 
by  very  few  city  churches  in  the  west.  The 
colleges  of  St.  Francis  and  St.  Ann  are  the  equal 
of  any  in  the  state  and  are  always  crowded,  and 
each  year  many  students  are  refused  for  lack 
of  room.  These  have  been  and  still  are.  Father 
Paul's  especial  pride  and  are  the  monuments  of 
his  life;  but  his  work  was  not  confined  alone  to 
them  nor  to  this  field.  He  establishejd  missions 
among  the  Indians  all  over  Kansas,  more  especi- 
ally the  south  part,  and  also  in  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory and  away  in  the  wilds  of  Wyoming.  In  all, 
Father  Paul  established  sixty-one  missions,  and 
he  took  a  prominent  part  in  eighty-two  others 
that  were  established  by  the  Fathers  of  this  place. 


life:  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  73 

During  all  this  time  he  has  not  forgotten  the 
members  of  his  parish  at  this  place.  We  have 
known  him  to  go  all  the  way  to  Pawhuska,  Ind. 
Ter.,  to  attend  at  the  side  of  the  death  bed  of  one 
who  has  requested  his  attendance,  and  this  in 
winter  thru  cold  and  storm.  Where  duty  called 
he  went.  Father  Paul  is  loved  and  revered  by 
all  the  church  here,  more  especially  by  the  older 
members  who  have  known  him  for  many  years. 
We  heard  a  lady  who  had  attended  St.  Francis' 
church  for  nearly  thirty  years  say;  "  I  hope  I 
die  before  Father  Paul;  I  want  him  when  I  die; 
he  is  always  the  same."  He  needs  no  words  of 
praise.     His  history  is  written  in  his  deeds. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

AN  APPRECIATION. 

BY   MISS  lizzie:  BKRRY. 

Father  Paul  (did  not  have  a  tall  and  command- 
ing form,  but  was  rather  short  in  stature.  He 
had  a  noble  Roman  style  of  countenance,  a  keen 
black  eye,  which  in  youth  harmonized  with  a 
crown  of  jet  black  hair,  but  which  turned  silvery 
white  long  before  time  marked  his  brow  with 
many  furrows.  There  was  something  in  his 
cheerful  and  genial,  yet  at  the  same  time  reserv- 
ed manner,  which  at  once  indicated  his  noble 
birth  and  gentle  breeding.  His  striking  aquiline 
features  were  full  of  wonderful  expression  as 
he  talked,  in  fact  his  whole  being  was  then  call- 
ed into  action,  for  his  gestures  were  as  expres- 
sive as  his  words ;  this  in  connection  with  his 
varied  and  almost  inexhaustible  furid  of  knowl- 
edge made  Father  Paul's  "stories"  so  fascinating 
to  the  young.  He  had  a  peculiar  love  for  chil- 
dren especially  "his  little  boys"  as  he  called  them, 
but  his  fondness  for  them  never  encouraged  any 
familiarity  which  might  lead  to  disrespect  to- 
wards him.  He  invariably  carried  in  his  pockets 
a  supply  of  little  holy  pictures,  medals,  Agnus 
Deis,  etc.,  to  distribute  among  the  children  whom 
he  would  meet  on  his  rounds  of  visits.  His 
smiling  face  and  fatherly  pat  on  each  little  head 
with  a  "God  bless  you,"  coming  like  a  fervent 
prayer  from  the  heart,  won  their  love.  Father 
Paul  was  not  fastidious  in  dress.  He  wore 
(74) 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  75 

coarse  clothes,  heavy  boots,  a  low  black  felt  hat, 
in  winter  flannel  shirts  and  something  like  what 
is  now  called  a  sweater  under  his  coat  and  knit- 
ted wristlets,  the  last  a  yearly  gift  from  good 
Mother  Bridget.  This  attire  is  not  to  be  wonder- 
ed at  when  we  consider  the  mode  of  travel  in 
early  days.  For  many  years  he  traveled  on 
horseback,  often  sleeping  on  the  bare  ground 
with  nothing  but  his  saddle-blanket  for  a  pillow 
and  no  other  companion  but  his  horse  fastened 
somewhere  nearby.  In  later  years  he  drove  a 
team  of  ponies  to  a  little  covered  wagon.  He 
generally  carried  a  few  provisions  with  him,  as 
he  would  sometimes  travel  whole  days  without 
getting  anything  to  eat.  He  told  this  story  after 
returning  from  one  of  his  journeys.  It  was  a 
hot  day  and  he  had  traveled  many  hours  without 
taking  any  refreshment.  He  became  very  thirsty 
and  rejoiced  when  he  came  in  sight  of  an  Indian 
tepee  and  was  met  by  a  friendly  squaw.  He 
kindly  asked  for  a  drink  of  water.  She  was  glad 
to  show  him  this  hospitality  and  took  a  cup,  or 
whatever  kind  of  a  drinking  vessel  she  had,  and 
carefully  wiped  it  out  with  her  long  black  hair 
before  filling  it  with  water.  He  could  not  over- 
come the  nausea  caused  by  this  sight,  so  he 
merely  put  the  cooling  liquid  to  his  burning  lips 
and  by  a  quick  movement  drew  her  attention 
away  from  him.  She  remained  ignorant  of  the 
strategy,  for  an  Indian  would  never  forgive  an 
abuse  of  kindness.  She  was  happy  under  the 
impression  of  having  allayed  his  thirst.  The  In- 
dians are  naturally  dirty  and  lousy,  therefore  it 
should  not  produce  a  shock  to  a  sensitive  nature 
nor  provoke  a  feeling  of  disgust  to  know  that 
Father  Paul  could  not  at  all  times  come  in  con- 
tact with  so  much  filth  and  not  become  infected ; 
rather  it  should  send  a  thrill  of  admiration  for 


76  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

the  heroic  sacrifice  of  his  Hfe  which  might  have 
been  spent  in  the  luxurious  rooms  of  an  Itahan 
palace  or  roaming  thru  its  sweet-scented  gar- 
dens, instead  of  going  from  wigwam  to  wigwam 
among  the  savages  of  the  forest.  There  were  a 
few  Catholic  families  in  a  small  town  sixty-five 
miles  from  Osage  Mission,  now  St.  Paul,  and 
Father  Paul  visited  them  at  stated  intervals,  al- 
ways staying  at  the  home  of  one  particular  fam- 
ily while  ministering  to  the  spiritual  wants  of 
this  little  flock.  On  one  occasion  he  went 
there  and  as  usual  the  hostess  arranged  the  spare 
bed-room  with  everything  for  his  comfort,  and 
as  it  was  late  in  autumn  when  the  nights  were 
cool,  she  took  out  a  fine  pair  of  white  wool 
blankets  and  placed  them  on  his  bed.  Before  re- 
tiring to  rest  that  night  Father  Paul  spent  some 
time  chatting  and  inquiring  about  all  his  friends 
and  what  had  transpired  since  his  last  visit,  he 
appeared  a  little  restless  after  his  tiresome  jour- 
ney. The  following  morning  the  small  congre- 
gation assembled  at  this  same  house,  and  as  was 
his  custom,  he  celebrated  Mass  and  administered 
the  sacraments  Xo  them.  He  did  not  tarry  long 
after  his  priestly  ministrations  were  accomplish- 
ed, but  journeyed  back  to  the  Jesuit  home  in 
Osage  Mission.  After  the  guest  departs  the  tidy 
housewife  usually  proceeds  to  clean  and  air  the 
room  he  occupies  during  his  sojourn.  According- 
ly this  one  in  question  went  about  the  work  and 
soon  found  she  had  a  hard  task  before  her,  for 
her  beautiful  soft  blankets  were  infested  with  ver- 
min. Father  Paul  had  spent  the  previous  night 
at  an  Indian  wigwam  and  was  not  yet  fully  aware 
of  the  presence  of  the  vermin  on  his  clothing. 

Father  Paul  endured  all  inconveniences  and 
hardships  silently  and  patiently,  because  his  hap- 
piness sprung  from  within  himself  and  was  in- 


^:'^tpx^f;^^^ 

.«£.     ^,^^^g 

^M'^    ■. 

>A'^^ 

'^-  _  z 

<  >  c 

5  -  -7 

;^  z  - 


LIFE  AND  LlSTTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  TJ 

dependent  of  external  circumstances,  for  he  had 
that  inexhaustible  good  nature  whjich  is  the 
most  precious  gift  of  Heaven;  spreading  itself 
like  oil  over  the  troubled  sea  of  thought  and 
keeping  the  mind  smooth  and  equable  in  the 
roughest  weather. 

Th^  Indians  loved  Father  Paul  and  manifest- 
ed their  friendship  for  him  in  many  ways.  Yes, 
he  even  owed  his  life  more  than  once  to  their 
loyalty.  In  a  letter  v/ritten  while  out  on  a  mis- 
sion among  the  Indians  in  St.  Stephen^s  Mission, 
where  he  labored  nearly  a  year,  he  narrated  this 
incident:  He  was  riding  in  a  lonely  and  deso- 
late part  of  the  country  where  there  was  not  a 
sign  of  human  life  visible.  He  had  missed  the 
trail,  losing  the  direction  in  some  way,  so  he 
attempted  to  cross  a  stream  but  when  about  mid- 
way, he  encountered  a  rapid  current  and  deep 
water  so  that  he  lost  control  of  his  pony  and 
found  that  he  could  not  save  himself  from  drown- 
ing. With  a  fervent  prayer  from  his  heart  he 
resigned  himself  to  the  Will  of  God.  Suddenly, 
as  if  an  angel  came  from  Heaven  a  friendly  In- 
dian appeared  upon  the  bank  and  leaped  to  his 
rescue. 

Few  men  ever  embodied  more  greatness.  He 
had  every  accomplishment  and  every  quality  man- 
kind reveres  and  strives  for.  He  was  a  great 
writer,  a  great  scholar,  but  above  all  he  was  a 
great,  true  priest,  winning  the  immortal  crown 
of  victory  after  a  long  life  of  more  than  four 
score  vears. 


CHAPTER  V. 

MR.    BREWSTER'S  ADDRESS. 

On  December  6,  1904,  Samuel  W.  Brewster, 
of  Chanute,  Kansas,  delivered  an  address  before 
the  Kamas  Historical  Society  at  Topeka,  Kansas, 
on  the  life  work  of  Father  Paul.  Below  is  quot- 
ed all  that  part  of  his  address  which  is  not  too 
great  a  repetition  of  what  has  already  been  said 
in  this  book.  Mr.  Brewster  dees  not  hold  the 
religious  belief  of  Father  Paul,  hence  what  he 
said  may  be  taken  as  an  appreciation  of  the  real 
personal  character  and  work  of  the  great  mis- 
sionary.   Mr.  Brewster  spoke  as  follows : 

Love  always  expresses  itself  in  service.  He 
who  lives  forever  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  his 
countrymen  has  loved  humanity.  Thru  humble, 
daily  service,  in  kindly  deeds  to  the  unfortunate 
of  earth,  men  become  truly  great. 

History  is  not  an  impartial  critic.  By  reason 
of  material  prosperity,  one  may  be  considered 
great  in  his  day  and  generation,  but  such  great- 
ness "is  oft  interred  with  his  bones."  Croesus  is 
remembered  but  for  one  thing — wealth.  In  his- 
tory, he  is  a  cold  proposition.  The  name  Nero 
produces  a  creeping,  cringing  sensation  which 
time  never  can  obliterate.  But  to  be  lovingly 
reverenced  by  all  generations,  one  must  be  a 
Buddha,  a  vSocrates,  a  Savonarola,  or  a  Ponzig- 
lione. 

It  often  happens  that,  after  great  institutions 
are  founded  and  immortal  characters  are  built, 
the  suggestive  thought  back  of  it  all  is  forgotten. 
(78) 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  79 

Oftener  it  is  unknown  to  the  world.  In  consider- 
ing Osage  Mission  and  the  Hfe-work  of  Father 
Paul  M.  PonzigHone,  as  missionary  ^mong  the 
Indians,  one  would  hardly  anticipate  a  suggestion 
coming  directly  or  indirectly  from  the  great 
statesman,  John  C.  Calhoun. 

In  the  year  1823,  when  Calhoun  was  secretary 
of  war  under  President  Monroe,  the  Right  Rev- 
erend Ivouis  Dubourg,  bishop  of  Upper  and  Low- 
er Louisiana,  consulted  the  president  and  secre- 
tary of  war  in  regard  to  devising  means  for  the 
education  of  Indian  children  within  his  diocese. 
Mr.  Calhoun  suggested  the  advisability  of  asking 
the  Jesuit  priests  of  Maryland  to  furnish  mem- 
bers of  their  order  to  assist  in  such  work.  At 
White  Marsh,  Prince  George  county,  Maryland, 
there  were  a  number  of  young  priests  who,  in 
182 1,  has  come  with  Rev.  Charles  Nerinckx  from 
Europe  for  the  purpose  of  devoting  their  lives 
to  missionary  work.  Rev.  Charles  Van  Quick- 
enborne,  a  Belgian  priest  from  Ghent,  was  then 
master  of  novices  at  White  Marsh.  He  had  come 
to  the  United  States  in  181 7,  hoping  to  become 
a  Jesuit  missionary  among  the  Indians. 

Bishop  Dubourg  conveyed  Mr.  Calhoun's  sug- 
gestion to  Father  Van  Quickenborne,  at  White 
Marsh,  who  at  once  saw  the  great  opportunity 
of  realizing  his  life  hope — to  be  a  missionary 
among  the  Indians. 

On  making  known  this  newly  suggested  plan 
to  the  young  priests  who  had  come  to  the  United 
States  with  Father  Nerinckx,  six  of  them,  Bel^ 
gians.  immediately  volunteered  to  accompany 
Father  Van  Quickenborne  on  his  distant  mission- 
ary journey  to  the  West. 

Bishop  Dubourg  generously  offered  to  donate 
to  these  Maryland  Jesuits  a  rich  farm  at  Floris- 
sant, near  the  Missouri  river,  and  to  put  them  in 


8o  hlP^  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL. 

possession  of  his  own  church  and  residence  in 
St.  Louis. 

In  1827  Father  Van  Quickenborne  left  his 
Jesuit  home  in  Missouri  and  made  his  first  visit 
to  the  land  of  the  Osage  Indians  in  southerjr 
Kansas. 

He  made  two  other  visits  to  the  Osages — in 
1829  and  1830.  But  the  noble  work  of  the 
Jesuits  among  the  Osage  Indians  took  on  per- 
manent and  lasting  character  in  the  spring  of 
1847,  when  they  built  a  chuich  and  established 
schools  at  the  place  where  Father  Van  Quick- 
enborne first  acquainted  these  untutored  savages 
with  the  virtues  of  the  Christian  religion. 

For  nearly  half  a  century  this  place  was  known 
as  Osage  Mission.  Then,  without  regard  for 
historic  association,  thru  an  unfortunate  and  mis- 
taken notion  entertained  by  some  of  the  leading 
citizens,  the  name  was  changed  to  St.  Paul,  April 
12,  1895.  T^he  town  is  located  in  Neosho  county, 
Kansas,  about  ten  miles  southeast  of  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  county  near  the  beautiful 
Neosho  river. 

There  is  a  beautiful  legend  (which  can  hardly 
be  called  a  legend,  for  want  of  age  to  make  it 
such)  that  Father  Van  Quickenborne  was  the 
"Black  Robe  chief"  of  the  mission  where  Long- 
fellow's Evangeline, 

"Just  as  the  sun  zvent  down,      .      .      .     heard 

a  murmur  of  voices, 
And  in  a  meadow  green  and  broad,  by  the  bank 

of  a  river, 
Saw  the  tents  of  the  Christians,  the  tents  of  the 

Jesuit  Mission*' 
•      «...•.••••••• 

*'Utuier  a  towering  oak,  that  stood  in  the  midst 

of  the  village, 


Knelt  the  Black  Robe  chief  zmth  his  children,  A 
crucifix  fastened 

High  on  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  and  overshadoived 
by  grape-vines, 

Looked  zvith  its  agonized  face  on  the  multitude 
kneeling  beneath  it. 

This  ivas  their  rural  chapel.  Aloft,  thru  the  in- 
tricate arches 

Of  its  aerial  roof,  arose  the  chant  of  their  ves- 
pers, 

Mingling  its  notes  with  the  soft  susiirrus  and 
sighs  of  the  branches." 

*  ^^  >;=  >:=  *  >;c  :::  >ic  * 

It  would  be  impossible  to  give  a  fair  sketch  of 
Father  Ponziglione  and  his  work  among  the 
Osage  Indians  without  mentioning  two  very  im- 
portant personages  connected  with  him  in  hi^ 
labors — Reverend  Father  John  Schoenmakers  and 
Mother  Superior  Bridget  Hayden — the  first,  a 
young  Jesuit  priest  from  Holland,  and  the  sec- 
ond, a  nun  of  the  order  of  the  Sisters  of  Loretto, 
from  Kentucky. 

While  Father  Schoenmakers  was  the  actual) 
founder  of  Osage  Mission,  he  had  been  preceded, 
as  said  heretofore,  by  Father  Van  Quickenborne, 
in  1827.  who  in  turn  was  preceded  by  Rev. 
Charles  de  la  Croix,  in  1822.  The  particular 
incident  recorded  of  Father  de  la  Croix's  visit 
to  the  O sages  was  the  baptism  of  two  Indian 
children,  James  and  Francis  Choteau — the  first 
within  this  state. 

The  first  marriage  ceremony  of  record  within 
the  state  was  that  of  Francis  Daybeau,  a  half- 
breed,  and  Mary,  an  Osage  woman,  performed 
by  Father  Van  Quickenborne  in  1829— -both  the 
baptism  and  marriage  ceremonies  occurring 
where  Osage  Mission  was  subsequently  founded. 


82  life:  and  letters  of  father  PAUL. 

Father  Schoenmakers  died  July  28,  1883,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six.  His  death  caused  univer- 
sal sadness  thruout  both  Catholic  and  Protestant 
communities,  for  he  was  loved  and  reverenced 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  buried  in  the 
Catholic  cemetery  at  Osage  Mission,  where  a 
simple  marble  slab  marks  his  grave ;  but  his  noble 
life  stands  as  a  lasting  monument  for  genera- 
tions to  come. 

Mother  Bridget  Hayden,  the  co-worker  with 
Fathers  Schoenmakers  and  Ponziglione,  was  born 
in  1815.  October  5,  1847,  she  arrived  at  Osage 
Mission  with  a  small  band  of  Sisters  of  Loretto 
from  Kentucky,  and  at  once  established  a  school 
for  the  education  of  Indian  girls.  This  school 
grew  very  rapidly,  and  with  the  settlement  of 
the  country,  its  privileges  were  extended  to  the 
white  girls.  Soon  an  academy,  or  boarding- 
school,  was  started,  the  first  boarding-school  for 
girls  in  Kansas.  The  popularity  of  this  academy 
extended  beyond  the  borders  of  the  state,  so  that, 
in  a  few  years,  several  states  and  territories  were 
represented  on  the  roster  of  the  school.  This  in- 
stitution was  maintained  until  September,  1895, 
when  the  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire,  and 
never  have  been  rebuilt.  The  Sisters  of  Loretto 
having  left  the  mission  after  the  fire,  other  sis- 
ters started  a  day-school ;  but  only  the  pictur- 
esque ruins  remain  on  the  site  of  this  once  popu- 
lar and  famous  academy. 

Mother  Bridget  continued  in  charge  of  the 
girls'  school  for  about  forty  years,  and  until  the 
day  of  her  death.  She  was  a  most  lovable  char- 
acter. Eminently  practical,  her  generosity  knew 
no  bounds.  Her  hand  was  always  outstretched 
to  the  weak  and  needy.  Many  a  poor  girl,  with 
no  way  or  means  of  acquiring  an  education,  was 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  83 

lovingly  helped  by  Mother  Bridget  thru  St.  Ann's 
Academy. 

In  1870  Noble  L.  Prentis  visited  Osage  Mis- 
sion. Upon  the  death  of  Mother  Bridget,  soma 
years  later,  Mr.  Prentis,  recalling  this  visit,  paid 
a  tender  tribute  to  this  saintly  woman  in  an  edi- 
torial article,  from  which  the  following  extract 
is  taken : 

"It  was  at  this  visit  that  the  writer  met,  for  the 
first  and  last  time,  Bridget  Hayden,  known  to 
the  world  as  Mother  Bridget.  Born  in  181 5,  her 
hair  was  white  in  1870.  She  had  passed  thru,  in 
her  earlier  years  in  the  wilderness,  quite  enough 
to  change  its  color.  She  was  a  woman  of  com- 
manding look,  and  spoke  in  a  firm,  resolute  but 
quiet  way,  as  one  should,  accustomed  to  impress 
herself  on  human  creatures  brought  to  her  as 
wild  as  any  bird  or  beast  in  all  their  native  prai- 
ries ;  this  she  had  done  and  more — she  had  gained 
their  affections.  The  conversation  which  she 
held  at  once  took  a  religious  turn,  and  the  listener 
would  be  very  ungrateful  if  he  did  not  remem- 
ber that  Mother  Bridget,  as  well  she  might  from 
the  privilege  of  her  years,  spoke  to  him  like  a 
mother  indeed,  not  of  churches  and  creeds,  but 
of  the  necessity  of  personal  righteousness." 

It  is  easy  to  do  good  v/hen  no  sacrifices  are  re- 
quired. Too  often  the  best  preacher  is  *  called" 
to  the  best-paying  place.  But  the  greatest  mani- 
festation and  supreme  test  of  religious  worth  and 
nobility  of  character  is  when  the  preacher  or 
priest  renounces  once  and  forever  all  the  allur- 
ing fascinations  of  position,  wealth  and  honor 
to  cast  his  lot  with  the  less  fortunate  of  earth's 
children,  and  devote  his  energies  and  abilities  to 
the  uplifting  of  humanity. 

There  seems  to  have  been  with  Father  Paul 
an  inborn,  manifest  destiny  for  the  priesthood. 


84        ufe:  and  i,e:tte;rs  of  father  paul. 

A  religious  instinct  con ti  oiled  him  from  the 
earliest  years  of  his  life.  As  a  small  boy,  play- 
ing with  his  little  sister  in  his  father's  palace 
gardens,  he  was  accustomed  to  don  the  vestments 
cf  the  priest.  This  seems  to  have  aroused  the 
childish  jealousy  of  his  sister,  and  to  all  his 
grave  arguments  that  only  boys  and  men  could 
be  priests,  she  turned  a  deaf  ear. 

In  this  connection  Father  Paul  once  related  a 
pathetic  incident  to  a  friend  in  Osage  Mission. 
When  a  boy,  in  representing  himself  as  a  priest, 
Paul  would  assume  the  serious,  severe  attitude, 
ir.  contrast  to  the  little  girl's  laughing  joyous  dis- 
position. And  in  after-years,  when  the  sister  had 
entered  a  convent  adjoining  the  monastery  where 
her  brother  was  preparing  for  his  priestly  call- 
ing, the  echo  of  her  girlish  laughter,  vibrating 
thru  the  sacred  stillness  of  his  surroundings, 
often  fell  harshly  upon  the  ears  of  the  young 
novice  engaged  in  his  devotions.  As  yet,  with  the 
overzealousness  of  youth,  he  could  not  under- 
stand how  a  heart  devoted  to  God  could  harbor 
any  but  solemn,  religious  thoughts.  So,  upon 
one  occasion,  he  reprimanded  his  sister,  in  the 
presence  of  the  mother  superior,  for  her  light- 
heartedness;  but  in  turn,  he  was  reprimanded 
by  the  mother  superior,  who,  by  reason  of  many 
years  of  experience,  comprehended  religious  life 
from  a  different  standpoint.  But  there  came  a 
change,  a  brief  sickness,  and  the  lovely  spirit  of 
the  young  sister  passed  out  from  the  gray  con- 
vent walls  into  the  pure  delights  of  the  city 
beautiful.  Now.  after  more  than  half  a  century, 
the  aged  priest,  broadened  by  years  of  loving, 
consecrated  service  'to  humankind,  longed  to 
hear  again  the  echoed  music  of  that  girlish  laugh- 
ter. 

5|;  ^t:  5f:  :1:  jf:  ^  *  H?  * 


LIfE  AND  I,E;TTERS  O]?  ^AtHER  PAUL.  85 

While  still  in  Italy,  he  had  determined  to  spend 
his  life  as  a  missionary  among  the  American  In- 
dians, and  in  pursuance  of  this  resolve  he  had  of- 
fered himself  as  such  to  the  Rev.  Anthony  Elet, 
S.  J.,  superior  of  the  western  Jesuits  in  the 
United  States.  Soon  thereafter  Father  Elet  sent 
him  word  that  the  general  of  the  Jesuit  society 
had  assigned  him  to  their  mission  in  Missouri. 

Upon  leaving  St.  Xavier's  College  Father  PauL 
proceeded  directly  to  St.  Louis  and  reported  to 
Father  Elet,  who  immediately  assigned  him  to 
missionary  work  in  Missouri  and  Kentucky.  He 
spent  two  years  in  this  field  and  then  returned 
to  St.  Louis. 

Now  begins  the  realization  of  his  early  hopes 
— the  commencement  of  his  real  life-work  among 
the  Indians.  In  March,  185 1,  accompanied  by 
the  Right  Reverend  Miege,  S.  J.,  bishop  of  Leav- 
enworth, Father  Paul  left  St.  Louis  for  his  far 
western  mission  .  While  his  home  was  to  be  at 
Osage  Mission,  and  his  particular  charges  the 
Osages,  his  missionary  labors  extended  from 
Fremont  Peak,  Wyo.,  to  Fort  Sill,  I.  T. 

Father  Paul  M.  Ponziglione  was  now  a  young 
man  thirtv-three  years  of  age,  a  little  above  me- 
dium height,  of  slender  build,  and  possessing  an 
attractive  i)ersonality.  Much  has  been  said  of 
the  personal  beauty  of  the  man.  His  features 
Avere  aristocratic,  of  the  distinctly  higher  Italian 
type.  His  large,  well-shaped  head  was  crowned 
with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  close,  jetty  curls;  the 
forehead,  high  and  broad,  betokened  great  intel- 
lectuality; the  eyes,  tho  dark  and  penetrating, 
were  mild  in  expression,  and  tempered  with  a 
bare  suggestion  of  sadness;  his  nose  was  some- 
what of  the  Grecian  type,  and  the  thin,  firmly 
closed  lips  slightly  drooped  at  the  comers.    The 


86  LTFK  AND  LKTTKRS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

chin,  tlio  prominent,  was  in  symmeti;y  with  the 
rest  of  his  face. 

Every  one  who  knew  the  good  Father,  speaks 
of  the  raclient  kindUness  of  his  greeting  smile, 
which  was  but  the  "ontward  and  visible  sign  of 
an  inward  and  spiritual  grace."  Upon  his  coun- 
tenance at  all  times  dv/elt  that  ''beauty  of  holi- 
ness." far  surpassing  any  earthly  beauty. 

:*:  :•:  :•;     '  ;;:  ^I  H:      ^  >i=  '      *  * 

During  tlie  first  twenty-five  years  of  Father 
Paul's  life  among  the  Osages  they  remained  in 
southeastern  Kansas.  This  was  one  of  the  bright- 
est periods  in.  their  history. 

And  these  were  golden  days  for  Father  Pon- 
ziglione.  He  was  working  out  among  those  wild 
people,  in  what  was  then  called  the  ''Great  Ameri- 
can Desert,"  the  ambition  of  his  youth.  From 
the  time  he  was  first  met,  many  miles  from  the 
Mission,  by  Indian  couriers,  sent  to  conduct  him 
to  his  new  home,  to  the  day  of  his  death,  he  was 
their  loving  father  and  counselor.  He  was  the 
court  of  last  resort  for  their  individual  and  public 
grievances.  He  was  their  honored  guest  upon  all 
occasions  of  feasting  and  merrymaking.  He  bap- 
tised tlieir  chilch-en.  and  was  "a  light  unto  their 
feet"  in  nil  the  wavs  of  education  and  righteous- 
ness. He  united  their  youni^  men  and  women  in 
marr-'a^e.  He  ministered  alike  to  their  physical 
and  spiritual  needs.  He  watched  by  their  death- 
beds and  administered  the  last  sacrament.  There 
was  no  road  too  rougli,  no  distance  too  great,  no 
weather  too  hot  or  too  cold,  no  vigil  too  long  or 
lonely,  when  'suffering:  humanity  called  Father 
Paul.  Well  might  he  have  said : 
*'Thc  deaths  \c  have  died  J  have  ivatched  beside, 
And  the  lives  ye  have  lived  were  mine!* 

The  particular  scope  of  Father  Ponziglionc's 
mission  work  in  -Kansas  extended  from  Cherokee 


UFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  8/ 

county  north  to  Miami  county,  thence  to  Fort 
Larned,    Pawnee   county,    and    so   on   thru    the 
counties  along  the   southern  state  hne  back  to 
the  home  mission.     He  was  first  to  spread  the 
Gospel  in  thirty  of  the  counties  of  the  state  in- 
cluded in  the  circuit  just  mentioned.     He  also 
penetrated  the  wild  regions  of  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory, and  established  missionary  stations  at  the 
Indian  agencies  and  military  posts  as  far  south 
as  Fort  Sill,  near  the  Texas  line.     So  this  noble 
father  and  his  self-sacrificing  co-workers,  start- 
ing from  the  mother  church  at  Osage  Miission, 
within  forty  years  established  i8o  Catholic  mis- 
sions,  eighty-seven   of  which  were  m   southern 
Kansas  and  twenty-one  in  the  Indian   rerritory. 
The  great  reverence  in  which  Father  Paul  was 
held  by  all  Indians  from  his  first  acquaintance 
with  them,  and  the  extent  of  his  reputation  as 
their  friend,  is  shown  by  the  following  mcident: 
In  the  early  fifties  he  was  overtaken  by  a  band 
of   wild    Indians   near    where    Fort    Scott   now 
stands      Not  knowing  him,  the  savages  held  a 
short  council,  and  then  prepared  to  burn  him  at 
the  stake.     When  he  had  been  firmly  bound  and 
all  things  were  ready  to  carry  out  their  purpose, 
an  Indian  woman  came  and  gazed  intently  upon 
his   face   for  a  minute.     A  flash  of  recognition 
passed  over  her  countenance,  and  she  threw  up 
her  hands  in  dismay.     Then  turning  to  his  cap- 
tors she  spoke  a  few  quick  words,  and  they  as 
quicklv  released  him  from  his  bonds.    Then  they 
had  nothing  too  great  to  offer  him,  and,  m  their 
uncouth  way,  made     every     demonstration     ot 

frendliness.  ^         *         *         ♦ 

*         ******** 

In    1870  the  Osages   withdrew   forever   from 

Kansas  into  the   Indian  Territory,  but  Father 

Paul  never  once  relaxed  his  watchfulness  over 


88  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

his  red  children.  It  was  his  unvarying  custom 
to  meet  personally  every  member  of  the  tribe 
once  a  year.  His  dun-colored  ponies  and  white- 
canvass-topped  spring  wagon  were  a  familiar 
sight  to  thousands  of  people. 

^  '•'  t-  ^  ^^  i'ii  ;;<  ^;  3|: 

That  beautiful  edifice  in  Osage  Mission,  wide- 
ly known  as  St.  Francis'  church,  and  the  most  im- 
posing structure  of  its  kind  in  the  state,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Catholic  cathedral  at  Leav- 
enworth, is  one  of  the  many  evidences  of  Father 
Paul's  indefatigable  energy  and  untiring  devotion 
to  the  Catholic  faith.  Without  accident,  the 
sacred  building  will  stand  for  centuries.  The 
masonery  of  the  ^building  is  unsurpassed  by  any 
in  workmanship  and  solidity.  The  walls,  which 
are  of  sand-stone,  two  and  one-half  feet  thick,  rise 
thirty-two  feet  at  the  lowest  point,  ^and  sixty- 
seven  feet  at  the  highest  point,  from  the  level 
of  the  floor.  The  belfry  tower,  twenty-four  by 
twenty-four  feet,  is  of  stone,  and  it  is  seventy 
feet  to  the  top  of  the  masonry  on  which  the  bell) 
rests.  AH  this  is  capped  by  thirty-two  feet  of 
wooden  structure,  making  the  complete  height 
of  the  tower  102  feet.  One  hundred  and  twenty 
car-loads  of  sand  and  plaster  material  were  used 
in  the  construction  of  the  building.  The  founda- 
tion cost  $7,000;  $23,440  were  paid  to  mechanics 
for  wages;  the  doors  and  windows  were  $5,800; 
then  came  the  great  altar,  the  side  altars,  the  heat- 
ing apparatus,  the  immense  pipe-organ,  and  oth- 
er furnishings,  making  the  entire  cost  of  the 
building,  as  it  now  stands,  $90,000. 

Owing  to  the  great  liberality  manifested  by 
Catholics  ever3^where,  even  the  full-blooded 
Osages,  then  residing  in  the  Indian  Territory, 
contributing,  this  magnificent  church  was  abso- 
lutely free  from  debt  when,  on  the  i  rth  day  of 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OE  EATHER  PAUL.  8() 

May,  1884,  it  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  St. 
Francis  de  Hieronymo,  by  the  Right  Reverend 
John  Hogan,  D.  D.,  bishop  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
On  February  2^,  1889,  Father  Ponziglione 
celebrated  his  golden  jubilee  at  Osage  Mission, 
the  occasion  being  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his 
admission  to  the  Jesuit  society.  Many  hundreds 
of  people  were  present.  Men  of  nat'onal  repu- 
tation and  high  church  connections  came  great 
distances  to  pay  tribute  to  one  of  the  most  gen- 
erally beloved  characters  in  the  American  Catho- 
lic church. 

if.  if.  %  >K  ♦  :»;*** 

In  the  spring  of  1889,  there  was  much  trouble 
with  the  Crow  tribe  on  their  reservation  in  Mon- 
tana. It  was  thought  that  Father  Paul  might  be 
able  to  do  more  with  them  than  any  one  else. 
So  he  was  asked  to  go  there  and  use  his  influence 
as  a  peacemaker,  which  he  did  with  marked  re- 
sults. But  his  leaving  the  home  Mission  cast  a 
deep  sadness  over  southern  Kansas  and  the  In- 
dian Territory;  for,  owing  to  his  advanced  age, 
every  one  felt  the  improbability  of  his  ever  re- 
turning tc  Kansas. 

Father  Ponziglione  left  Montana  to  become 
historian  of  St.  Ignatius'  College,  in  Chicago, 
in  1891.  It  is  remarkable  that  thruout  his  life 
as  an  Indian  missionary  he  always  maintained 
his  high  degree  of  scholarship,  and  to  the  day 
of  his  death  was  considered  one  of  the  finest 
Latin  scholars  in  the  Jesuit  society.  He  was  an 
able  writer  of  both  prose  and  poetry  in  Latm 
composition.  .     , 

In  connection  with  his  work  at  St.  Ignatius  s 
College,  he  was  assistant  pastor  at  the  Jesuit 
church.  He  heard  confessions,  visited  the  sick, 
and  it  is  said  that  in  the  singing  of  High  Mass 
his  rich  tenor  voice  rang  out  clear  and  strong  as 


go  LlFje  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

m  the  days  of  his  youth,  tho  now  an  octogena- 


rian. 


But  his  great  sympathetic  soul  always  turned 
to  the  weak  and  helpless.  Added  to  his  other 
work  in  Chicago,  he  became  chaplain  of  St.  Jo- 
seph's Home  for  Deaf  JNRites,  and  organized  two 
sodalities  among  them,  one  for  the  young  men 
and  the  other  for  young  women.  He  prepared 
sermons,  psalms  and  prayers  for  them  in  the 
sign  language.  Outside  of  his  own  parish,  he 
also  did  active  work  in  the  Visitation  and  Aid 
Societies,  and  for  nearly  ten  years  he  preached 
the  Gospel  to  the  inmates  of  the  Bridewell,  in 
Chicago. 

On  the  25,th  of  March,  a.  d.  1898,  Father  Paul 
celebrated,  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  his  priesthood.  It  was  a  notable 
occasion  for  a  notable  man.  A  Jesuit  priest's 
religious  and  educational  training  is  so  long  and 
thoro  that  but  few  ever  live  to  have  a  golden 
jubilee.  The  wonderful  character  of  Father  Pon- 
ziglione  as  count,  priest,  Indian  missionary,  his- 
torian and  writer  made  the  event  extremely  in- 
teresting, and  it  became  one  of  national  church 
importance. 

Just  two  3'ears  later — two  more  full  years  of 
unceasing  service  for  Christ  and  humanity — and 
the  venerable  father  passed  peacefully  on  to  the 
higher  realizations  of  spiritual  truth.  After  a 
short  sickness  with  bronchial  pneumonia,  Father 
Ponziglione  died,  at  St.  Ignatius's  College,  in 
Chicago,  on  Wednesday  night,  March  28,  1900, 
a  little  past  his  eighty-second  ^ear. 

No  great  and  good  man  belongs  exclusively  to 
any  particular  religious,  social  or  political  or- 
ganization. Influences  for  good  must  extend  to 
all  humanity,  and  the  noble  character  of  Father 
Paul  stands  like  "the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in 


LIFE  AND  I,KTTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  pi 

a  weary  land,"  offering  peace  and  comfort  to 
the  heavy-laden  and  distressed.  Whilst  always 
he  was  a  most  ardent  Roman  Catholic,  his  soul 
was  too  great  to  be  circumscribed,  and  he  was 
the  father,  friend  and  priest  to  every  one  who 
knew  him.  This  was  Christlike — this  was  Pon- 
ziglione. 

In  considering  the  character  of  a  state  or  na- 
tion, we  are  apt  to  look  at  the  purely  social  and 
political,  and  to  lose  sight  of  the  moral  and 
religious  factors.  Who  can  estimate  a  strong 
man's  influence  for  good?  Who  can  measure 
the  worth  of  Father  Ponziglione  in  the  formative 
period  of  this  state?  In  one  of  his  last  letters 
to  a  friend  he  wrote : 

"If,  during  a  period  of  forty-nine  years,  the 
Osages,  as  a  nation,  did  not  teike  up  arms  against 
the  United  States  government;  if  they  did  not 
make  a  wholesale  slaughter  of  trains  and  cara- 
vans while  crossing  the  plains;  if  they  did  not 
ransack  the  country  along  the  border  of  both 
Missouri  and  Kansas »  if,  in  a  word,  they  did  not 
turn  hostile  to  the  white  people,  this  is  due,  in  a 
great  part,  to  the  influence  of  the  Catholic  church, 
exerted  over  them  thru  her  missionaries." 

While  true  in  general  of  the  church,  it  should 
be  more  particularly  applied  to  Father  Ponzigli- 
one himself;  for  his  wonderful  personality  and 
Christlike  character  predominated  at  all  times, 
in  all  places,  and  over  all  peopk,  for  the  univer- 
sal and  perpetual  betterment  of  social  and  po- 
litical conditions. 

His  character  so  thoroly  impressed  upon  the 
thousands  of  students  educated  at  St.  Francis' 
College  and  St.  Ann's  Academy,  in  Osage  Mis- 
sion, stands  also  as  an  imperishable  monument 
to  his  greatness. 

So  endeth  this  life's  work  of  Father  Paul  M. 


92  LII^K  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Ponziglione,  the  last  representative  of  the  noble 
houses  of  Guerra  and  Ponziglione,  who  left 
friends,  wealth  and  nobility  in  Italy  to  become 
an  humble  Jesuit  priest  and  missionary  among 
the  western  American  Indians,  and  whose  life 
was  so  pure,  whose  human  sympathy  was  so 
great,  that  to  know  him  was  to  feel  the  impulse 
of  his  riohteousness. 

The  influence  of  his  unpretentious  life,  coming 
thru  quiet  channels,  are  so  pure  and  simple,  so 
great  and  lasting,  as  to  make  the  name  of  Pon- 
ziglione worthy  to  be  inscribed  forever  upon  the 
pages  of  Kansas  history, 

"What  is  excellent,  as  God  lives  is  permanent." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  OSAGE  CATHOLIC  MISSION. 

Published  in  The  Osage  Mission  Journal,  July 

Osage  Mission,  Neosho  Co.,  Kansas, 
June   loth,   1869. 
PubHsher  of  the  Osage  Mission  Journal: 

In  reply  to  your  kind  favor  of  the  7th  inst.,  i 
have  to  sav  that  the  occupations  imposed  upon  me 
by  my  ministry  do  not  allow  me  time  to  become 
your  correspondent.  However,  I  am  wiUmg  for 
this  time  to  comply  with  your  request,  and  shalt 
forward  you  what  few  facts  I  know  concerning 
both  the  origin  of  this  Catholic  Mission,  and  the 
establishment  of  the  Osages  in  this  county.  So 
likewise  I  shall  give  you  my  opinion  about  their 
moral  improvement,  especially  so  far  as  it  has 
reference  to  this  Osage  Catholic  Mission,  of 
which  I  am  a  member  since  1851. 

If  you  think  the  publication  of  these  might  be 
interesting  to  your  readers,  use  such  as  you  deem 
proper. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Paul  M.  Ponzigltone,  S.  J. 
*     * 

It  is  a  difficult  thing  to  state  when  the  Osages 
for  the  first  time  pitched  their  camps  on  the  beau- 
tiful banks  of  the  Neosho.  However,  we  can 
record  some  few  facts  which  might  one  day  prove 
interesting  in  forming  a  history  of  the  early  set- 
tlement of  this  part  of  the  Neosho  Valley,  now 
known  as  Neosho  county. 
(93) 


94  life:  and  IvETTE^RS  OI^  FATHE^R  PAUL. 

A  MISSIONARY  DESIRED. 

In  1820,  the  Osages  being  in  the  vicinity  of 
St.  Louis,  sent  a  delegation  of  their  leading 
men  headed  by  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  nation, 
to  Rt.  Rev.  Dubourg,  Roman  Catholic  Bishop 
of  New  Orleans,  then  visiting  the  State  of  Miss- 
ouri, which  formed  at  that  time  the  northern  part 
of  his  Diocese.  The  object  of  this  delegation  was 
to  obtain  some  Catholic  Missionary  to  visit  their 
towns  and  teach  them  the  ways  of  God. 

The  Bishop  was  very  much  pleased  with  this 
delegation  and  promised  that  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable he  would  send  them  a  missionary.  Rev. 
Charles  La  Croix  was,  after  a  few  days,  appoint- 
ed to  that  mission.  He  visited  the  Osages  re- 
peatedly, baptised  a  good  many  of  their  children, 
and  was  going  to  build  a  chapel  among  them, 
when,  exhausted  by  his  labors,  he  was  taken 
away  by  death. 

MANUAL  LABOR  SCHOOL  ESTABLISHED. 

Rev.  Charles  La  Croix  was  succeeded  in  his 
mission  to  the  Osages  by  Rev.  Father  Chas.  Van 
Quickenborne  who  not  only  visited  the  Osages 
in  their  towns,  but  used  all  his  energy  in  provid- 
ing for  the  education  of  their  youth.  For  this 
reason,  in  June,  1824,  he  established  the  first 
Manual  Labor  School  that  ever  existed  among 
them.  He  collected  the  boys  in  the  residence  of 
St.  Stanislaus,  not  far  from  the  town  of  Floris- 
sant, in  St.  Louis  county,  and  placed  the  girls  in 
the  convent  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  in  the  town  of 
St.  Charles,  St.  Charles  county.  The  two  places 
not  being  very  far  the  one  from  the  other,  he 
could  without  much  trouble,  provide  for  the  wel- 
fare and  instruction  of  both.    The  work  of  edu- 


UFiC  AND  LKTTKRS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.  95 

cation  was  now  proceeding  prosperously,  and 
promising  a  good  deal,  when  the  Osages,  having 
made  a  new  treaty  with  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment, obliged  themselves  to  vacate  the  State 
of  Missouri,  and  withdrew  into  Kansas,  then 
generally  known  under  the  name  of  Western 
Indian  Territory. 

This  new  arrangement  frustrated  the  plan  of 
Father  Charles  Van  Quickenborne ;  and  the  school 
so  prosperously  commenced  came  to  a  premature 
end. 

A   PRESBYTERIAN    MISSION. 

The  Osages  having  removed  to  this  new  terri- 
tory, a  school  was  provided  for  them  by  a  Board 
of  Presbyterians.  This  school  was  located  near 
the  Western  line  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Marais  des  Cygnes,  some  three 
miles  north  of  Papinsville,  in  Bates  county,  Miss- 
ouri. 

Tho  Father  Charles  \'anQuickenborne  had  now 
no  school  among  the  Osages,  he  yet  continued  to 
take  care  of  them.  He  visited  them  regularly 
at  their  new^  Mission,  which  was  called  Harmony 
Mission,  and  baptised  several  of  their  children 
in  the  Mission  House,  where  the  Presbyterian 
ministry  most  kindly  and  liberally  allowed  him  a 
room  to  use  as  a  chapel. 

OSAGES  SETTEE  IN    NEOSHO  COUNTY. 

In  1827,  Father  Van  Quickenborne  from  Har- 
mony Mission,  came  to  visit  the  Osages  on  Neo- 
sho river,  in  this  very  county,  where  they  had 
just  begun  fto  form  permanent  settlements.  These, 
however,  were  not  confined  to  this  county,  but 
were  in  two  great  divisions — one  we  might  call 


96  LTFl^  AND  IvKTTERvS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

of  the  Neosho,  the  other  of  the  Verdigris,  each 
containing  from  six  to  nine  Indian  towns,  each 
having  its  respective  Chief.  But  as  the  head 
Chief  of  the  whole  Osage  Nation  resided  on  the 
Neosho  and  had  his  house  built  on  what  is  now 
called  Auguste  creek,  and  his  people  were  form- 
ing their  towns  sometimes  on  the  west,  and  at 
others  on  the  east  side  of  the  Neosho  on  the 
very  identical  spot  where  nor  rises  our  beauti- 
ful town,  so  this  place  was  considered  from  the 
earlier  days  of  its  existence  as  the  place  of  busi- 
ness. 

The  Indian  towns  of  the  first  division  extend- 
ed from  the  confluence  of  the  Labette  with  the 
Neosho  to  that  of  Owl  Creek  into  the  same  riv- 
er. Those  of  the  second  division  extended  from 
the  junction  of  Pumpkin  Creek  to  that  of  Che- 
topa  Creek,  both  with  the  Verdigris  river. 

The  half-breed  settlement  was  mostly  located 
between  what  is  now  called  Canville  Creek  and 
Flat  Rock  Creek.  The  mechanics  allowed  to  the 
Osages  under  their  late  treaty  with  the  United 
States,  were  located  on  Flat  Rock ;  and  the  prin- 
cipal establishment  of  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany was  on  Canville  Creek.  But  as  the  Agency 
was  located  for  a  considerable  time  not  far  from 
the  mouth  of  Flat  Rock,  so  our  present  town 
site  was  considered  the  most  important  settle- 
ment on  the  Neosho. 

ANOTHER   PRESBYTERIAN   MISSION. 

About  this  time  the  Presbyterian  Board  of 
Missions  established  another  school  at  Salins  in 
the  Cherokee  Nation,  for  the  education  of  those 
Osages  who  were  living  on  Verdigris.  But  this 
school,  as  well  as  the  other  at  Harmony  Mission, 
after  a  few  years'  existence  could  not  be  con- 


Lll'E  AND  LETTlvRS  OF  FATHIiR  PAUL.  97 

tinued  and  were  bo,th  given  up.  After  the  break- 
ing up  of  those  schools  the  same  Missionaries 
tried  to  get  up  another  one  in  this  county.  For 
this  {purpose  they  erected  a  large  house  on  the 
left  or  east  bank  of  Four  Mile  Creek,  about  one- 
fourth  miie  from  its  junction  with  the  Neosho. 
They  lived  and  preaciu^a  in  this  building  but 
some  difficulty  prevented  the  successful  opening 
of  a  school  at  that  place,  and  the  Missionaries 
seeing  that  they  were  losing  time  and  could  do 
nothing  with  the  Osages,  gave  this  place  up  like- 
wise and  abandoned  the  whole  Osage  Nation — 
£ind  so  they  were  without  any  school. 

CATHOLIC     MISSKjX     t  STABLISHfiD. 

Father  Charles  \  an  Ouickenborne  having  died 
in  1828,  the  spiritual  care  of  the  Osages  was 
transferred  to  the  Fathers  of  St  Mary's  Mission 
among  the  i:*ot  tawatomie  Indians,  then  located 
on  the  Big  Sugar  Creek  ir>  Linn  county  where 
now  rises  the  town  of  Paris.  These  Fathers 
visited  the  Osages  as  regular  as  they  could  from 
1829  to  1847;  when  the  Osages  having  requestei 
Rt.  Rev.  Peter  R.  Kendrick,  Bishop  of  St.  Louis, 
for  a  Catholic  school.  Rev.  Father  John  Schoen- 
makers  was  appointed  as'  superior  of  this  Mission, 
and  reached  this  place  on  the  29th  day  of  April, 
1847- 

MANUAL   LABOR    SCHOOL. 

Father  Schoenmakers  took  possession  of  the 
two  buildings,  yet  unfinished,  w^hich  had  just 
been  put  up  for  the  use  of  this  new  Mission  by 
order  of  the  Indian  Department.  Meanwhile, 
while  Father  S.  was  having  these  buildings  com- 
pleted, his  companion,  Father  John  Bax,  went 


98  LlFf)  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

about  visiting  among  the  Osages,  speaking  to 
them  with  great  zeal  on  the  importance  of  be- 
coming civilized  and  embracing  Christianity. 
They  were  pleased  with  him  and  having  offered 
him  several  of  their  children  that  he  might  give 
them  a  Christian  education,  he  promised  he 
would  return  after  them  soon.  On  the  loth  day 
of  May,  the  houses  being  finished,  he  collected 
a  small  number  of  Osage  children  and  brought 
them  in — and  so  began  on  that  day  the  Osage 
Manual  Labor  School,  on  the  very  spot  on  which 
it  now  stands. 

Of  the  two  buildings,  one  was  used  for  the 
Indian  boys,  the  other  was  kept  for  a  female 
department. 

CONVENT  ESTABLISHED. 

On  the  5th  day  of  October,  1847,  several  Sis- 
ters of  Loretto  having  come  from  the  State  of 
Kentucky  to  devote  themselves  to  the  education 
of  Indian  girls,  the  present  Convent  was  opened 
and  has  been  flourishing  to  this  day. 

ENLARGEMENT AND  CHURCH  BUILT. 

In  a  short  time  these  two  houses  became  too 
small  to  accommodate  the  pupils  who  were 
brought  in,  and  it  became  necessary  to  enlarge 
the  buildings,  and  next  to  multiply  them. 

So  Father  Schoenmakers  went  to  work  and 
first  building  a  nice  church,  he  by  degrees  added 
other  houses  which  gave  this  institution  the  ap- 
pearance of  quite  a  town. 

The  church  was  dedicated  to  God  in  honor  of 
St.  Francis  of  Jerome,  and  was  soon  looked  upon 
as  the  terminus  of  a  Holy  Pilgrimage  which  most 
of  the  Catholics  living  in  a  circuit  of  50  to  80 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAT'L.  99 

miles,  would  once  a  year  perform  to  comply  with 
their  Christian  duties. 

The  Fathers,  who  with  Father  John  Schoen- 
makers,  attended  this  Mission,  visited  the  ad- 
jacent tribes  of  such  as  the  New  York  Indians, 
Miamis,  Peorias,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  Ouapaws, 
and  others  residing  south  of  the  old  Santa  Fe 
road,  and  established  among  them  as  well  as 
among  the  white  Catholic  settlers  scattered  here 
and  there,  over  a  wide  extent  of  country  some 
200  miles  in  diameter,  several  Missionary  sta- 
tions which  they  visited  from  time  to  time.  But 
this  Osage  Mission  was  always  considered  as  the 
Mother  House,  from  which  all  other  Stations 
were  supplied.  The  church  in  which  I  have  this 
day  officiated  is  the  same  one  first  built,  and 
which  with  its  additions  forms  now  a  building 
30x93  feet  in  size,  and  yet  is  by  no  means  suf- 
ficient to  seat  the  number  who  attend  Divine 
service  therein. 

INDIAN  AGENCY  REMOVED. 

A  few  years  after  Father  John  Schoenmakers 
had  established  this  Mission,  the  Osage  Agency 
was  moved  from  here  to  the  Quapaw  Nation, 
some  four  miles  from  the  south-east  corner  of 
this  state,  on  a  small  brook  called  Lost  Creeks 
This,  however,  did  not  seem  to  detract  from  the 
value  of  our  property  or  place,  as  the  United 
States  Agents  would  come  every  year  to  visit  us. 
Sometimes  to  call  the  Osages  in  Council,  then  to 
examine  our  Indian  children,  and  would  general- 
ly make  rich  presents  of  flour,  beef,  etc.,  to  the 
Indians, — more  particularly  when  payments  of 
their  annuities  were  being  made. 


lOO        LIF^  AND  LETTERS  OE  FATHER  PAUL. 
ANNUITY    PAYMENTS    AND    FEASTING. 

Every  year  the  time  of  paying  annuities  was 
a  time  of  great  merriment  with  our  Indians.  The 
Nation  would  on  such  an  occasion  come  here  and 
build  their  camps  around  us;  and  nearly  every 
season  some  other  tribe  would  come  to  pay  a 
visit  to  the  Osages.  Sometimes  you  would  see 
the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  sometimes  the  Kaws  or 
Otoes,  at  another  the  Kiowas  and  Commanches. 
The  object  of  these  visits  was  ,to  renew  their  old 
friendship,  which  they  did  by  smoking  the  Calu- 
met, playing  war  dances,  aii^  running  horse 
races,  to  the  great  amusement  of  their  white 
visitors,  who  used  to  be  present  in  large  num- 
bers. 

The  time  of  payment  was  likewise  a  time  of 
rendezvous  for  traders  and  travelers  of  every 
description,  all  would  come  to  the  Mission  which 
really  was  an  Oasis  in  the  desert,  for  no  settle- 
ment then  existed  nearer  than  Fort  Scott,  40 
miles  away;  and  all  who  came  stopped  with  us, 
either  to  rest  their  teams,  to  repair  their  wagons, 
or  to  supply  themselves  with  provisions.  So  it 
is  that  this  Osage  Mission  can  in  truth  be  called 
the  cradle  of  civilization  in  the  Neosho  Valley. 

•  THE   AMERICAN    FUR   COMPANY. 

MX-;.;  '  i  ';• 

In  former  days  the  American  Fur  Company  in 
bringing  up  their  goods  from  Fort  Smith  on  the 
Arkansas  River  to  the  Osages,  began  a  main 
Southern  Route  of  which  this  Mission  was  the 
terminus;  for  at  that  time  the  Osage  Indian 
trade  did  not  extend  farther  north,  but  having 
come  here  from  the  far  west,  went  down  the 
Neosho  to  Fort  Gibson  and  Forth  Smith  in 
pirogues  and  flat  boats  which  the  hal-f-breeds  con- 


LIF]^  AND  I.E1T£:RS  OF  Fx\TH^R  PAUL.        lOI 

structed  in  the  timber  on  the  banks.  By  degrees 
the  trade  of  the  Fur  Company  having  extended 
north  of  this  place  another  main  route  was  open- 
ed to  the  Missouri  River,  striking  it  at  Kansas 
City  and  near  Leavenworth.  The  pioneer  settle- 
ments were  nearly  all  estabUshed  along  these 
routes,  after  a  while  small  towns  sprang  up,  and 
now  beautiful  cities  occupy  the  ground  where 
one  day  poor  but  adventurous  trappers  cooked 
their  scanty  meal,  and  took  their  slumber  always 
uneasy  in  fear  of  losing  their  scalps. 

BENEFIT    AND    RESULTS    OF    MISSION    SCHOOL. 

Whether  the  labors  and  expenses  undertaken 
by  this  Mission  for  the  civilization  of  the  Osages 
have  really  been  in  the  past,  and  will  in  the  fu- 
ture prove  beneficial  to  them,  we  do  not  now 
enter  to  discuss. 

We  know  this  much  from  the  persual  of  an- 
cient history,  that  to  bring  aborigines  from  their 
state  of  barbarism  to  a  degree  of  civilization,  and 
next  make  of  them  good  Christians,  has  never 
been  the  work  of  a  few  years  only,  but  of  cen- 
turies. However,  we  dare  to  say  that  the  Mission 
established  by  the  Catholic  Church  among  the 
Osages  in  1820  and  continued  to  this  day,  has 
been  of  great  benefit  to  humanity  at  large,  for  it 
has  kept  them  from  ravaging  the  neighboring 
settlements,  gave  them  an  idea,  at  least  of  hori- 
esty  and  righteousness,  inspired  in  them  respect 
for  religion,  and  inculcated  upon  their  youth 
the  importance  of  Christianity. 

If  during  a  period  of  now  49  years  the  Osages 
as  a  Nation  did  not  take  up  arms  against  the 
United  States  Government,  if  they  did  not  make 
a  wholesale  slaughter  of  trains  and  caravans 
while  crossing  the  plains,  if  they  did  not  ran- 


102        II5K,  AND  LKTTKRS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

sack  the  country  along  the  borders  of  both  Miss- 
ouri and  Kansas;  if  in  a  word,  they  did  not  turn 
hostile  to  the  white  people,  this  is  due  in  great 
part  to  the  influence  the  Catholic  Church  exert- 
ed over  them  thru  her  Missionaries. 

OSAGE    SCHOLARS. 

The  school  of  this  Osage  ISdHssion  has  gen- 
erally been  a  success,  even  during  the  late  war, 
which  proved  detrimental  to  so  many  institutions 
of  this  kind. 

The  number  of  pupils  in  attendance  has  al- 
ways been  large — the  number  of  such  one  year 
being  as  high  as  236.  Great  many  are  those  who 
at  sundry  times  have  visited  this  school  and  ex- 
amined the  pupils  at  their  pleasure ;  and  all  found 
to  their  satisfaction  that  the  children  of  the 
Osages  are  capable  of  acquiring  an  education  as 
well  as  any  other  children,  and  become  as  good 
scholars  as  w^hite  children.  To  be  convinced  of 
the  truth  of  this  assertion,  it  is  sufficient  to  open 
the  Annual  Report  given  by  the  United  States 
Agents  to  the  Indian  Department  concerning  this 
Osage  Mission  Manual  Labor  School. 

And  tho  in  candor,  we  are  bound  to  acknowl- 
edge that  a  large  number  of  pupils  who  have 
been  reared  at  this  Osage  School  after  having 
left  this  school  and  returned  to  the  Indian  towns, 
have  resumed  the  Indian  customs,  and  in  some 
instances  become  very  bad,  yet  we  cannot  deny 
that  a  goodly  number  have  succeeded  very  well, 
become  industrious,  and  earn  their  bread  hon- 
estly. 

OSACES   AGAIN   REMOVE. 

By  the  Tre^.ty  of  September  20th.   1865,  the 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.         IO3 

Osages  having  ceded  this  part  of  their  countr)'' 
to  the  United  States  Government,  again  remov- 
ed to  the  Verdigris  river,  leaving  a  good  many 
of  their  children  at  the  Osage  Mission  School, 
where  they  yet  are. 

A  TOWN  STARTED. 

No  sooner  did  the  white  people  come  in  this 
part  of  the  country  than  they  seemed  to  like  the 
location  of  this  place  better  than  any  other,  and 
began  to  talk  of  building  a  town.  Father  John 
Schoenmakers,  seeing  their  desire  donated  for 
this  purpose  a  quarter  section  of  land  to  a  Town 
Company.  They  laid  out  the  town  and  went  to 
work  without  delay,  and  have  been  very  success- 
ful, for  tho  great  has  been  the  opposition  made 
to  Osage  Mission  yet  it  has  flourished  greatly, 
and  in  this  day  is  one  of  the  bes  t  towns  of  South- 
em  Kansas. 

PIONEER   OF   1851    RELATES   EXPERIENCES. 

St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago,  III. 
July  21,  1895. 
Neosho  County  Journal: 

In  reply  to  your  kind  circular  of  the  6th  inst., 
I  must  say  that  since  the  time  I  came  to  Osage 
Mission,  now  St.  Paul,  in  1851,  your  country 
has  gone  thru  a  wonderful  change,  and  this  for 
the  better.  In  1851  Kansas  was  a  regular  des- 
ert, not  a  single  white  man's  house  could  be  found 
between  Ft.  Scott  and  Denver,  Colorado.  Father 
John  Schoenmakers'  old  Mission  house,  few 
half-breed's  cabins,  and  here  and  there  some  di- 
lapidated Trading  Posts,  were  the  only  marks  of 
an  incipient  civilization.  The  Neosho  River  was 
looked  upon  as  the  "Ultima  Thule,"  and  those 


104        ^1^^  ^""^^  IvETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

who  would  dare  to  go  as  far  as  the  Verdigris 
would  never  engage  in  such  a  voyage  without  a 
good  escort.  To  venture  farther  west,  would 
have  been  considered  a  foolish  temerity.  The 
very  name  of  the  Osages  was  a  terror  all  over 
the  land,  and  no,t  without  a  reason,  for  strag- 
gling warriors  would  frequently  commit  heavy 
depredations  on  caravans  bound  for  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  the  generally  poor  settlers  living  on 
the  borders  of  the  state  of  Missouri,  were  always 
in  dread  of  the  Osages.  Whether  really  the 
Osage  Nation  was  responsible  for  such  continued 
Indian  raids,  1  cannot  tell,  all  I  can  say  about  it 
is  that  more  than  once  good  Father  Schoenmak- 
ers,  having  found  out  that  parties  were  being 
organized  to  go  to  Missouri  to  rob  and  massacre 
the  settlers,  would  send  for  the  leaders  and  by 
sound  reasoning  would  try  to  make  them  change 
their  minds.  As  soon  as  the  Father  would  per- 
ceive his  vvords  were  producing  some  good  im- 
pressions on  their  wild  nature,  he  would  sympa- 
thize with  them,  acknowledging  that  really  they 
had  been  badly  used  by  the  white  men,  but  he 
would  say.  this  does  not  give  you  right  to  re- 
venge yourselves  on  helpless  settlers.  At  last  he 
would  conclude  by  saying,  now  my  friends,  be 
good  boys  and  let  those  settlers  alone ;  come  on 
with  me,  and  going  to  the  field  he  would  give 
them  a  calf  or  a  cow  to  eat  and  feast  on  during 
the  night  and  this  always  proved  to  be  the  best 
argument,  for  once  they  had  their  belly  filled  up 
and  had  slept  a  good  night  over  it,  they  would 
give  up  their  murderous  plans  and  return  ta 
their  villages.  By  such  acts  of  genuine  Christian 
charity,  the  Father  succeeded  in  saving  the  lives 
of  many  innocent  people  and  this  was  altogeth- 
er the  principal  good  that  our  Mission  was  do- 
ing in  those  prehistoric  times.    To  what  concern- 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.         IO5 

ed  ourselves  in  particular,  considering  that  vve 
were  quite  isolated  among  the  Indians,  having 
no  army  to  defend  ourselves  and  being  40  miles 
distant  from  the  nearest  white  man's  settlement, 
some  might  think  that  our  condition,  especially 
that  of  the  Sisters  of  Loretto,  who  had  charge 
of  the  Osage  girls,  must  have  been  a  terrible 
one,  nay  rather  critical,  but  it  was  not  so,  for 
as  the  Indians  got  acquainted  with  our  way  of 
living,  they  became  very  familiar  with  us,  but 
in  regard  to  the  convent,  they  always  did  show 
a  great  respect  for  it  and  in  their  dealing  with 
the  Sisters,  they  were  remarkable  for  their  re- 
serve, and  if  at  any  time  there  would  happen  to 
be  any  reason  to  fear  that  some  incursion  might 
be  made  against  us  by  wild  Indians  from  the 
plains,  the  Osages  would  watch  the  convent  by 
day  and  by  night,  and  the  Sisters  were  never 
exposed  to  any  danger.  In  fact,  no  accident  of 
any  kind  ever  interfered  with  them.  The  fol- 
lowing event,  tho  not  of  much  importance,  will 
show  with  what  solicitude  those  wild  Indians 
were  watching  for  the  safety  of  the  Sisters. 

Some  time  in  the  summer  of  1853  several  In- 
dians of  the  Little  Osage  town,  located  where 
stands  the  city  of  Chanute,  had  come  with  their 
Chief,  Strike-Ax,  to  pay  us  a  visit,  when  just 
at  noon,  a  horse-hunter  of  theirs  comes  in  a 
great  hurry,  reporting  that  a  band  of  Sac  Indians 
had  been  seen  on  Coal  Creek,  but  a  few  miles 
from  town,  driving  away  Osage  ponies.  At 
hearing  this  Strike-Ax  uttered  a  tremendous  war- 
whoop.  At  the  sound  of  it  all  his  men  sprang 
on  their  horses  and  all  the  warriors  of  our  In- 
dian town  joined  their  friends  and  in  a  few 
minutes  a  large  company  was  formed  ready  to 
start  on  the  war  path.  Strike-Ax,  fitly  proud, 
seeing  himself  at  the  head  of  so  many  Braves, 


106        hltX  AxN'D  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

called  Father  Schoenmakers,  told  him  not  to  be 
uneasy  or  fear  the  Sacs,  "for,"  said  he,  "I  have 
men  enough  to  route  them  all  out  of  the  country." 
He  next  said,"please  go  and  tell  the  Sisters  and 
our  daughters  not  to  be  troubled  for  we  will  make 
a  short  job  of  this  expedition  and  before  night 
we  will  settle  the  matter  by  taking  about  a 
dozen  of  our  enemies'  scalps." 

It  was  just  about  one  o'clock  when  they  all 
dashed  away,  as  if  their  ponies  had  wings,  so 
quick  were  they  all  out  of  sight  on  the  large 
prairie  now  covered  by  the  town  of  St.  Paul. 
Hardly  two  hours  had  passed  since  their  de- 
parture when  we  were  called  to  witness  a  scene 
quite  new  to  us.  And  lo  to  our  surprise  we  no- 
ticed about  fifty  old  squaws  with  half  of  their 
heads  covered  with  mud,  as  they  use  when  they 
are  in  mourning.  They  marched  out  of  their 
wigwams  in  a  long  file,  singing  a  wailing  tune, 
each  one  carrying  a  switch  in  her  hand.  They 
passed  before  the  convent  and  went  to  squatl 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  our  premises  and 
turning  themselves  toward  the  side  from  which 
the  Sacs  might  come  they  began  ,to  beat  the 
ground  with  their  switches,  accompanying  every 
stroke  with  invectives  against  their  enemy,  call- 
ing on  the  Great  Spirit  to  protect  the  convent 
and  be  hard  on  the  Sacs.  Our  children,  who  at 
the  appearance  of  the  squaws,  had  all  come  out 
of  their  rooms  to  look  at  them  and  were  having 
a  good  time  laughing  and  gesticulating.  When 
we  asked  them  why  those  women  were  beating 
the  ground  they  replied  they  were  fighting  the 
Sacs.  The  poor  creatures  kept  on  with  their 
ceremony  for  half  an  hour,  till  their  switches 
^\'ere  broken  to  fragments  and  they  themselves 
were  so  exhausted  that  they  had  to  go  home  to 
rest. 


LIFE)  AND  Ll^TTERS  OF  FATxiiiR  PAUL.         I07 

By  this  time  Strike-Ax  and  his  warriors  had 
got  in  sight  of  the  Sacs,  who  well  knowing  bow 
quick  the  Osages  are  in  taking  up  a  scalp,  far 
from  showing  lighting,  abandoned  at  once  the 
Osage  ponies  they  were  driving  and  ran  for  their 
life,  the  Osages  pursuing  them  till  they  saw  them 
way  off  out  of  reach.  Now  that  the  expedition 
was  over,  Strike-Ax  called  on  one  of  his  sons, 
by  the  name  of  Alexander,  who  had  been  at  our 
school  for  a  while  and  could  talk  very  good 
English,  bade  him  hurry  to  our  Mission  and  in- 
form Father  Schoenmakers  of  the  good  result 
they  had  and  how  they  had  recovered  all  their 
ponies  and  put  their  enemies  to  flight.  Next  he 
itold  him  to  be  sure  and  go  to  the  convent  and 
tell  the  Sisters  and  the  girls  not  to  be  uneasy  or 
have  any  fear  for  there  was  not  a  Sac  Indian 
left  in  the  country.  This  is  certainly  an  act  of 
gallantry  that  we  w^ould  never  have  expected 
from  the  Osages  had  we  had  to  judge  them  from 
their  wild  appearance.  Of  such  events  I  could 
write  a  book  if  I  had  nothing  else  to  do. 

In  those  days,  which  I  can  truly  say  were  the 
goldea  el-a  of  Osage  Mission,  we  seldom  saw 
any  white  men,  except  in  caravans  passing  by,  on 
their  way  west,  and  oh!  how  happy  were  these 
in  finding  our  place,  after  having  traveled  for 
days  and  days  thru  the  forlorn  prairies  of  Kan- 
sas, always  in  dread  of  being  attacked  by  Indians. 

Since  Kansas  has  been  opened  for  settlement, 
we  moved  with  the  people  and  with  them  went 
thru  all  the  ups  and  downs  to  which  the  country 
was  subjecjt,  especially  during  the  war.  We  saw 
Kansas  in  all  its  phases,  such  as  Droughty  Kan- 
sas, Grasshopper  and  Chinch-Bug  Kansas,  we 
saw  Bleeding  Kansas  and  happily  passed  thru 
the  days  of  Gen.  Jim  Lane.  John  Brown,  Price 
and  Marmaduke,  and  after  all  our  experience, 


I08        LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

I  think  I  can  pronounce  my  verdict  namely,  that, 
Kansas  after  all,  is  as  good  a  country  to  live  in, 
as  any  other  in  the  U.  S.  of  America. 
Respectfully, 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

KANSAS  CHURCH   HISTORY. 

Osage  Mission,  Kas. 
June  8,  1876. 

C.  H.  Howard,  Sir:  As  I  know  you  wish  to 
be  correct  in  all  )^our  statements,  especially  in 
regard  to  dates,  so  I  take  the  liberty  to  make 
some  rem.arks  about  an  article  in  your  issue  of 
June  7th,  1876,  under  the  head  of  "Kansas 
Church  History."  If  such  article  is  intended  to 
speak  of  the  Kansas  Protestant  Church  History 
exclusively,  then  I  have  nothing  to  say  011  the 
subject,  but  if  it  concerns  Kansas  Church  His- 
tory in  general,  then  I  beg  leave  to  be  allowed  to 
state,  that  from  the  records  of  our  church  kept 
at  this  institution,  it  appears  that  Rev.  Father 
Charles  Van  Quickenborne,  S.  J.,  in  his  capacity 
of  a  Roman  Catholic  Missionary,  as  early  as 
1827  visited  the  Osages,  then  having  a  large 
settlement  on  what  we  now  call  "Four  Mile 
Creek,"  about  one  mile  from  its  confluence  with 
the  Neosho  River. 

Father  Charles  V^an  Quickenborne  was  the  ftrst 
who  suggested  to  the  U.  S.  Government  the  idea 
of  educating  the  Osage  youth.  The  Government 
having  approved  his  plan,  he  himself,  opened 
the  first  school  for  the  Osages  in  our  house  at 
Florissant,  St.  Louis  county,  Missouri,  in  1824. 
Not  long  after  that  time  the  Osages  left  the 
State  of  Missouri  and  came  to  locate  on  the 
Neosho  River,  in  Kansas,  tho  now  they  were  a 
great  distance  from  St.  Louis,  still  Father  Charles 


LIFK  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.        lOQ 

Van  Quickenborne  kept  coming  to  visit  them  to 
give  them  an  opportunity  of  complying  with  their 
religious  duties.  According  to  our  records,  in 
August,  1827,  he  baptised  17  Osages  in  the  set- 
tlement of  Four  Mile  Creek. 
Respectfully, 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

ST.   PATRICK'S  CELEBRATION. 

From  the  Journal,  March  15,  1876: 

PROGRAMME. 

Next  Friday,  the  feast  of  St.  Patrick's,  there 
will  be  High  Mass  at  St.  Francis'  church.  Mass 
being  over,  the  congregation  will  march  in  pro- 
cession thru  the  Sodality  garden.  After  the 
procession,  a  dinner  will  be  served  in  St.  Fran- 
cis' Hall  by  the  ladies  of  the  congregation.  En- 
trance fee  will  be  50  cents  for  each  person.  In 
the  evening  at  7  o'clock,  a  drama  will  be  given 
by  the  students  of  St.  Francis'  Institution,  ac- 
companied by  select  music  from  the  young  la- 
dies of  St.  Ann's  Academy.  Admittance  fee 
25  cents  each  person.  The  drama  will  be  given 
in  St.  Francis'  Hall. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

OSAGE    INDIAN    QUESTION. 

From  the  Journal,  August  11,  1875: 

St.  Francis'  Institution,  Osage  Mission,  Kas. 

August  10,  1875. 
C.  H.  Howard,  Sir :  As  you  are  anxious  to 
know  something  positive  concerning  the  where- 
abouts of  Rev.  Father  John  Schoenmakers,  who 
one  month  since  went  to  visit  the  Osages  in  the 
Indian  Territory;  I  will  tell  you  that  he  is  en- 
joying good  health.     He  was  on  his  way  home 


no        IvIJPie  AND  LETTl^RS  OF  FATHE^R  PAUL. 

when  on  the  3rd  inst.,  having  me,t  Gerterals 
Ewing  and  Blair  on  the  Big  Cana,  he  accom- 
panied them  to  the  Osage  Agency. 

Generals  Ewing  and  Blair  did  not  intend  to 
visit  the  Agency,  as  their  object  was  ,to  go  thru 
some  few  Osage  settlements,  and  hear  what 
complaints  they  had  against  their  present  agent, 
Isaac  T.  Gibson.  But  when  they  came  on  Big 
Cana,  they  found  that  the  Osages  living  in  that 
section  of  their  country,  were  in  a  state  of  great 
excitement,  and  insisted  that  both  Generals  and 
Father  Schoenmakers  should  go  to  the  Agency 
and  see  with  their  own  eyes,  the  unanimous  dis- 
like of  the  Indians  agains,t  their  agent,  Isaac  T. 
Gibson,  and  at  the  same  time  they  could  see  their 
unanimous  love  and  preference  for  a  Catholic 
school. 

The  investigating  committee  had  not  got  in 
at  that  time,  but  was  daily  expected.  The  Osag- 
es are  in  a  very  bad  humor,  and  tell  many  hard 
things  about  their  agent,  Isaac  T.  Gibson;  but 
I  am  confident  that  Father  Schoenmakers'  in- 
fluence will  keep  them  from  all  hostile  depre- 
dations. They  have  been  wtronged  m  their 
conscience  by  this  agent,  who  for  over  five  years 
has  tried  all  in  his  power  to  make  them  abandon 
the  Roman  Catliolic  church,  which  they  love  and 
esteem;  and  has  tried  to  make  them  join  the 
Quaker  Institution,  which  they  despise;  more- 
over, this  agent  has  also  wronged  them  financial- 
ly, for  during  tliese  last  five  years  he  has  gen- 
erally squandered  their  money  in  useless  ex- 
penses— profitable  only  to  his  personal  friends 
— who  indeed,  are  receiving  big  salaries,  and 
meanwhile  the  poor  Osages  are  suffering — in 
many  instances  being  left  without  bread  or  shel- 
ter. ' 

It  is  difficult  to  sav  what  will  be  the  result  of 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.         Ill 

the  investigating  committee,  but  in  my  opinion — 
even  in  case  it  would  fail  in  doing  justice  to  the 
Osages — some  good  will  come  of  it,  namely: 
It  will  expose  to  the  sight  of  all,  well  authenti- 
cated facts  of  robbery  and  oppression,  and  im- 
partial history  will  show  to  the  whole  Christian 
world  how  poor  helpless  Indians — the  former 
owners  of  this  beautiful  county — were  cheat- 
ed by  those  who,  claiming  to  have  come  to  them 
as  teachers  of  Christianity,  did  nothing  else  but 
enrich  themselves  at  their  expense. 
Respectfully, 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

SOME   REMINISCENCES. 

St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago,  111. 
August  28.  1899. 

W.  W.  Graves,  Dear  Sir:  Your  weekly  is 
always  a  welcome  visitor  on  our  premises,  and  its 
number  of  the  loth  ins.t.,  recalled  to  my  mind 
sweet  ;Occurrences  bf  185 1,  as  well  as  the  few, 
years  that  preceded  the  civil  war.  History  will 
forever  show  how  the  war  did  put  an  end  to  the 
old  patriarchial  government  prevailing  to  that 
time  among  the  full  blood  Osages,  and  began 
a  new  era  in  their  life  by  opening  up  their  res- 
ervation to  the  white  settlers. 

In  those  days,  which  I  might  as  well  call  pre- 
adamitic,  the  Osages  were  having  their  golden 
age.  And  why  not?  Their  poor  wigwams  scat- 
tered here  and  there  around  the  Mission  log- 
houses,  were  forming  the  largest  settlement  in 
southern  Kansas.  The  brilliant  cities  of  Em- 
poria, Burlington,  Ft.  Scott.  Chanute,  Erie,  Par- 
sons, Oswego  and  Chetopa  were  not  as  yet  even 
dreamed  about.  The  Osage  Nation,  under  the 
great  Chief,  George  Wliite  Hair,  and  the  Mission 


112        life:  and  letters  of  father  PAUL. 

schools,  under  the  management  of  Father  John 
Schoenmakers,  were  the  only  points  then  consid- 
ered of  any  importance  by  the  Indian  Depart- 
ment whose  commissioners  frequently  visited  us. 

The  O sages,  who  then  numbered  a  little  over 
2,000,  were  a  power  in  the  west,  and  were  at 
peace  with  the  whole  world.  Tho  they  ."were 
neither  farming  nor  working  under  any  contract 
system ;  tho  you  could  not  meet  in  their  country 
with  prospectors  either  after  gold  or  lead,  or  coal 
or  gas ;  tho  no  railroad  cars  freighted  with  hun- 
dreds of  people  were  as  yet  crossing  what  in 
those  days  by  many  was  thought  to  be  the  Ameri- 
can Desert,  the  Osages  were  nevertheless  abund- 
antly provided  with  whatever  they  needed  by 
St.  Louis  merchants,  who  in  their  turn  w^ere  re- 
paid fwith  large  percentage  they  were  making  on 
the  exclusive  trade  they  had  on  furs  and  peltry 
procured  to  them  by  the  Osage  hunters.  And 
no  wonder  if  they  took  life  very  easy  for  the  60 
or  70  thousand  buffalos  they  every  year  were 
killing  besides  an  extra  amount  of  smaller  game 
such  as  bears,  deer,  antelope,  and  like,  they  were 
getting  on  the  interminable  plains  extending  from 
the  western  line  of  Missouri  to  the  eastern  line 
of  Colorado,  supplied  them  with  plenty  of  food 
and  a  rich  amount  of  buffalo  robes  as  well  as 
smaller  peltry  for  trade.  The  few  log  houses  of 
the  Mission  were  looked  upon  as  great  palaces, 
and  the  wells,  one  east  and  the  other  west  of 
the  old  church,  were  furnishing  an  inexhaustable 
treasure  of  fresh  water  to  a  couple  of  Indian 
villages,  forming  as  it  were  the  suburbs  of  the 
Mission. 

The  annuity  payment  was  the  only  time  of 
some  excitement  we  used  to  have  every  year. 
On  such  an  occasion  thousands  of  dollars,  hun- 
dreds of  head  of  cattle,  dry  goods  by  the  car 


UFK  AND  LfriTt:RS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.         II3 

load  were  distributed  among  the  Osages  by  the 
U.  S.  agent.  During  that  time  numbers  of 
strangers  would  come  to  smoke  the  Calumet  with 
our  Indians.  Of  the  neighboring  nations  the 
Kansas  were  always  most  friendly  to  the  Osages ; 
but  some  of  their  young  Bucks  were  mischievous 
and  on  returning  to  their  reservation  would  have 
no  scruples  of  driving  away  with  theirs,  also  a 
few  of  the  Osage  ponies,  a  thing  which  of  course 
after  a  while  would  cause  no  little  trouble  be- 
tween the  two  nations.  A  remarkable  instance 
of  this  kind,  which  took  place  in  those  early  days, 
will  show  how  acute  an  Indian  can  be  when  he 
puts  up  his  mind  to  steal,  a  nice  horse : 

An  old  Osage  Indian,  know^n  all  thru  the  res- 
ervation by  the  name  of  Basil,  had  a  very  beauti- 
ful young  mare,  the  only  riding  nag  in  his  pos- 
session. The  very  day  the  annuity  payment  of 
1852  was  over  a  band  of  Kansas  bovs  notified 
their  friends  that  they  would  leave  that  night  for 
their  home.  As  the  road  they  had  to  travel  pas- 
sed not  far  from  Basil's  settlement,  a  friend  of 
the  old  man  came  to  let  him  know  about  it  that 
he  might  be  on  the  lookout.  Thankful  for  the 
warning  received,  Basil  simply  remarked  that 
he  knew  how  the  Kansas  boys  were  very  quick 
at  picking  u])  ponies  but  this  time  he  would  make 
them  find  out  that  it  was  no  easy  job  to  drive 
away  his  filly.  Evening  coming,  he  hitched  the 
beast  to  a  sapling  close  by  his  wigwam.  Next 
he  hangs  a  bell  at  her  neck,  sure  that  if  any  of 
the  Kaw  boys  would  come  by  in  the  night  the 
animal,  alarmed  at  the  sight  of  the  stranger, 
would  try  to  evade  the  aggressor ;  the  result  would 
be,  that  in  the  excitement  which  was  bound  to 
arrive,  the  bell  would  ring  again  and  again,  and 
hearing  it  he  would  at  once  come  out  to  protect 
his  property.     The  old  man's  calcttlations  were 


114        life:  and  l^ETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

very  good  but  he  never  suspected  that  the  young 
Buck  would  be  so  smart  as  he  proved  himself  to 
be.  The  Kaw  boy  seeing  from  a  distance  that 
the  filly  was  hitched  close  to  Basil's  wigwam, 
leaves  his  riding  nag  far  off  on  the  prairie  and 
advances  very  slowly,  as  if  he  had  been  one  of 
the  neighbors,  comes  close  to  the  beasft.  After 
caressing  her  for  a  while  takes  the  bell  from  her 
neck,  hangs  it  to  a  slender  limb  of  the  same 
sapling  at  which  the  mare  was  hitched,  and  at 
once  springing  on  her  back,  off  he  goes  with  her. 
As  the  night  was  stormy  and  the  wind  was  shak- 
ing the  sapling  at  times  rather  violently,  it  fol- 
lowed that  the  bell  now  and  then  would  ring  for 
a  few  minutes.  Hearing  the  alarm,  Basil  would 
raise  his  head  and  listen  carefully,  but  as  the 
ringing  would  soon  stop  he  would  say  to  him- 
self, "All  is  right  with  the  filly.  I  see  the  flies 
are  hard  on  her,"  and  turning  himself  on  the 
other  side  would  resume  his  sleep  till  morning. 
You  can  easily  imagine  what  his  surprise  was 
when  on  coming  out  of  his  wigwam  .the  next 
morning  to  see  his  filly,  he  saw  indeed  the  bell 
was  there  but  the  filly  was  gone. 

Such  and  like  anecdotes  were  things  of  almost 
daily  occurence  in  those  olden  times.  As  there 
were  neither  police  nor  lawyers,  courts  nor  jails, 
the  whole  matter  was  brought  before  Father 
Schoenmakers  who,  after  listening  to  both  par- 
ties and  having  given  a  good  lecture  to  .the  boys 
in  general  and  especially  on  the  evil  practice  in 
which  they  were  indulging,  would  oblige  the 
guilty  parties  to  restore  the  stolen  property  to 
its  owner.     With  this  all  questions  were  settled. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione.  S.  J. 
*     * 

The  new  Catholic  church  of  Osage  Mission  will 
be  solemnly  blessed  by  Rt.  Rev.  John  J.  Hogan, 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.         II5 

Bishop  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  on  the  nth  day  of 
May  next.  The  ceremony  will  begin  at  7:30  a. 
m.  The  blessing  will  be  followed  by  High  Mass 
and  sermon.  In  the  afternoon  Vespers  will  take 
place  at  the  usual  time,  and  at  7:30  p.  m.,  a 
lecture  will  be  given  by  Rr.  Rev.  Bishop  J.  J. 
Hogan.  Admittance  and  seats  will  be  free.  The 
collection  of  the  day  as  well  as  of  the  evening 
will-  be  applied  to  the  paying  of  the  debts  of  the 
new  church. 

The  newspapers  printed  in  towns  within  a 
radius  of  forty  miles  from  Osage  Mission  are 
kindly  asked  to  publish  .this  notice. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

Pastor. 
Journal,  April  23,  1884. 

Marquette  College,  Milwaukee, 
August  II,  1889. 
John  R.  Brunt,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir:  Yesterday  I 
received  your  Jonirnal  and  I  am  very  thankful  to 
you  for  your  kindness.  My  new  home  is  a  nice 
one  but  Oh,  the  cottage  Good  Father  Schoenmak- 
ers  had  built!  When  T  saw  that  land-mark  fall- 
ing down  I  felt  that  some  bad  luck  was  in  store 
for  me,  but  I  am  only  joking,  Mr.  Brunt,  the 
fact  is  that  I  am  well  and  happy.  However.  T 
must  confess  that  my  body  is  here,  yet  ever  and 
anon  my  spirit  is  hovering  on  the  banks  of  Flat 
Rock  calling  on  the  name  of  my  dear  old  friends, 
but  alas!  Many  of  them  are  sleeping  and  never 
will  answer  my  call.  Please  remember  me  to  my 
friends. 

Paul  M.  Ponztclione.  S.  J. 

St.  Francis'  Institution  festival  for  the  finish- 
ing of  the  new  church,  v/ill-  be  held  on  the  i8th, 
19th  and  20th  of  October,  1883.    The  rooms  will 


Il6        UFK  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

be  Open  from  2  p.  m.  ,to  9  p.  m.     vSupper  at  25 
cents  for  each  person  will  be  served  by  the  ladies 
of  the  congregation.     Fancy  articles  will  be  sold. 
Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

The  blessing  of  Father  John  Schoenmakers' 
memorial  bell  will  take  place  on  Saturday,  the 
8th  of  December  next.  The  ceremony  will  be- 
gin at  2  :30  p.  m.  in  front  of  the  new  church.  As 
the  ceremony  will  be  very  interesting  and  new 
to  many,  all  are  invited  to  come  and  assist  in  it. 
Parsons,  Oswego,  Girard  and  Walnut  papers  are 
requested  to  copy  this  notice. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 
Neosho  County  Journal,  November  21,  1883. 

LETTERS  TO  MISS  BERRY. 

In  the  early  Sixties  the  D.  D.  Berry  family 
resided  at  LeRoy,  Kansas,  and  Father  Paul,  on 
his  trips  up  that  way,  always  made  it  a  point  to 
stop  at  the  Berry  home.  It  is  not  therefore  sur- 
prising that  a  warm  friendship  should  spring  up 
between  him  and  the  Berry  family.  The  Berry 
family  later  moved  ,to  Osage  Mission  and  lo- 
cated not  far  from  the  church,  where  some  of 
the  surviving  members  still  reside.  After  leav- 
ing the  "Mission"  Father  Paul  did  not  forget 
these  friends  and  kept  up  a  correspondence  wi*t!i 
members  of  this  family  as  lon^r  a^  he  lived.  Part 
of  his  letters  were  preserved  and  were  kindly 
loaned  to  the  writer  for  use  in  this  booic.  The 
letters  were  addressed  to  Miss  Susie  Berry  and 
with  the  exception  of  some  purely  personal  mat- 
ters, were  as  follows : 

Marquette   College,    Milwaukee,   Wis... 
September  5,  1889. 

l>ear  Friend :    Yours  of  the  2nd  inst.  with  its 


LIFE  AxVD  LKTTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.         II/ 

contents  came  to  hand.  I  will  offer  one  Mass  ac- 
cording to  your  intention  on  the  8th  inst.  I  can 
find  no  better  day  for  it  than  that  of  the  Nativity 
of  the  Mother  of  God. 

From  the  persual  of  the  Osage  Mission  Jour- 
nal, I  saw  that  your  father  was  very  sick,  and  I 
felt  very  happy  when  on  the  next  Journal  1  found 
that  he  was  getting  better.  May  God  preserve 
him  to  you  for  many  years  to  come.  I  am  glad 
to  see  that  your  mother  is  all  right. 

Please  remember  me  to  all  my  friends.  May 
God  bless  you  all.     Respectfully, 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 


Marquette  College,  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
December  15,  1889. 

Dear  Friend :  Yours  of  the  9th  inst.  has  come 
in  due  time.  "  =5^  *  I  ^m  afraid  your  sister 
Lizzie  studies  too  much.  Tell  her  to  take  care 
of  her  health,  for  as  long  as  she  will  be  well  she 
will  be  able  to  do  something,  but  if  she  gets  sick, 
what  will  she  do  then? 

You  say  you  have  very  pleasant  weather,  and 
so  we  also  can  say,  for  so  far  we  have  no  winter. 
People  are  pleased  but  they  fear  they  will  have 
to  pay  for  it  next  spring. 

\niwaukee  is  a  magnificent  city,  growing  every 
day  in  wealth  and  beauty.  Our  Catholic  popula- 
tion is  getting  larger  every  day.  The  Catholics 
num.ber  something  over  60  thousand,  and  we 
have  twenty-five-  churches  in  the  city.  The 
parochial  school  children  number  over  4,(XX). 

I  am  well  pleased  with  the  good  news  yoii 
give  me  about  little  Charlie  (Shields).  I  do  not 
doubt  that  his  brother  is  also  doing  well.  When 
you  will  write  to  them,  send  them  the  two  small 
pictures  you  will  find  enclosed,  and  tell  them  to 


Il8        LIFIC  AND  LKTTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Study  hard  and  behave  nicely.     Do  not  forget  to 
remember  me  to  their  mother  and  father. 

I  wish  you  would  give  my  love  to  as  many  as 
ask  you  my  news.  Tell  them  that  I  have  them 
always  present  in  my  mind,  and  I  daily  pray 
God  to  bless  them,  and  this  I  shall  more  par- 
ticularly do  during  the  coming  holy  days  of 
Christmas. 

I  hope  your  father  and  mother  are  both  en- 
joying good  health.  Tell  .them  I  wish  them  a 
happy  Christmas  and  a  happy  New  Year,  and 
this  is  my  prayer  to  God  for  them  that  they  may 
be  granted  to  see  and  enjoy  with  you  all,  many 
such  holy  days. 

Please  pray  also  for  me,  and  you  may  be  sure 
that  I  will  do  ,the  same  for  you. 

Respectfully, 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

Marquette  College,  Milwaukee, 
January  i,  1890. 
Miss  Susie  Berry  P.  X. 

Happy  New  Year!  Your  package  came  all 
right.  I  thank  you  very  much.  Your  present  is 
very  acceptable. 

We  continue  to  have  a  very  nice  weather. 
What  little  snow  we  had  some  weeks  ago  did 
not  remain  with  us  over  24  hours.  The  lake 
i.-;  open  to  navigation  as  usual.  Everyone  is 
wondering  at  such  a  winter,  which  is  no  winter 
at  all. 

We  had  a  lovely  Christmas  in  all  the  25 
Catholic  churches  of  this  town.  There  \vere 
Christmas  trees  everywhere.  Children  never 
felt  so  happy.  I  suppose  Father  Masterson  had 
a  big  Christmas  tree  in  the  hall,  but  I  am  sure 
Mother  Bridget  had  the  best.  Here  all  is  quiet, 
and  as  people  have  no  troubles,  so  they  must  bor- 


Lll'i:  AND  LE:TTERS  Ot^  FATHER  PAUL.         1  19 

row  some.  For  this  reason  they  are  scaring 
themselves  and  look  for  the  influenza  to  soon  faU 
on  them  sure  and  cei  tain.  They  move  very  cau- 
tiously as  if  this  sickness  would  be  lurking 
around  them  like  a  wild  cat.  Some  take  good 
drams  of  liquor  more  than  three  times  a  day, 
and  others  take  medicines  to  prevent  an  attack  of 
this  sickness.  The  doctors  are  making  a  good 
job  of  it. 

Remember  me  to  all  my  many  friends,  and  tell 
them  I  have  them  all  present  in  my  mind  whciu 
I  am  at  the  altar.    Respectfully, 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago, 
September  22,  1892. 
Dear  Friend:  I  am  very  thankful  for  your 
last  of  the  iSth  inst.  in  which  I  found  so  many 
news.  I  feel  happy  that  Father  Bononcini  is 
yet  among  the  living.  You  give  me  good  news 
about  the  Sisters  of  Loretto.  May  God  prosper 
them  and  increase  their  community.  *  *  '''  "^ 
Father  Masterson  is  all  right  and  stays  at  an- 
other house  We  have  in  this  great  city.  We  have 
at  this  college  a  very  large  attendance  of  stu- 
dents this  year.  The  majority  follow  the  classi- 
cal course.  Now  give  my  love  to  your  parents 
and  good  sisters,  and  tell  all  my  old  friends  that 
I  am  always  the  same  Father  Paul,  never  for- 
getting how  good  and  kind  they  used  to  be  to 
me.  Tell  them  I  will  always  remember  them  in 
my  prayers  and  I  wish  they  do  the  same  for  me. 
May  Cxod  bl-ess  all  my  dear  friends. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago, 

December  7,  1892. 

Dear  Friend  :    T  am  sorry  that  your  church  has 


120        I.IFE:  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

been  rifled  of  her  sacred  vessels.  Poor  Father 
Bononcini;  he  must  have  feh  very  bad  when  he 
discovered  what  sacrilege  had  been  committed! 
Unfortunately  the  country  is  teeming  with  rob- 
bers. This  large  city  is  no  exception.  So  far 
we  ourselves  have  not  been  molested.  You  are 
asking  me  about  Father  Condon.  He  is  here 
with  us  and  doing  well.  He  is  directing  a  young 
Ladies  Sodality  in  our  parish.  They  number 
700  and  are  just  now  making  a  spiritual  retreat 
of  eight  days.  I  had  a  visit  from  Mr.  Higgins 
and  for  awhile  I  felt  as  if  I  would  be  back  with 
you  all. 

Give  a  happy  Christmas  for  me  to  your  father, 
mother,  sisters  and  all  my  old  friends  and  as- 
sure them  that  I  never  forget  them.  May  God 
bless  you. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago, 
June  30,   1893. 

Dear  Friend :  Few  days  ago  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  seeing  young  Mr.  Ferrick.  He  gave  me  a 
bushel  full  of  Osa.ge  Mission  news.  T  felt  quite 
at  home  with  him  and  thought  for  a  while  on 
the  good  old  times. 

Now  what  is  the  matter  with  poor  -Katie 
Doud?  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  that  she  is  suf- 
fering. Please  go  and  see  her  for  me.  Tell  her 
to  have  patience  and  resign  to  God's  will,  for 
resignation  to  God's  will  is  the  best  remedy  for 
all  evils. 

Our  city  is  in  full  holiday  attire  and  people 
from  most  all  parts  of  the  world.  Turks  and 
Arabs,  Africans  and  Chinese,  Tartars  and  Nor- 
wegians, etc.,  can  be  seen  walking  thru  our 
streets  in  their  superb  costumes.  The  Columbian 
exposition  is  going  to  be  a  success.    I  heard  from 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.        121 

my  friend  Ferrick  that  a  number  ol  Osage  Mis- 
sion boys  are  calculating  to  come  to  visit  the  ex- 
position this  fall.  O  how  happy  will  I  not  be  to 
see  them ! 

Please  remember  me  to  Rev.  Fr.  Bononcini,  to 
the  good  Sisters  of  Loretto,  and  to  my  many 
friends.  May  God  bless  you.  I  shall  never  for- 
get the  kindness  shown  me  by  you  all,  especially 
by  your  parents.  That  God  may  return  you  the 
hundred  fold  is  the  most  sincere  wish  of  my 
heart.    Yours, 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

St.  Ignatius  College.  Chicago, 
August  14,  1805. 
Miss  Susie  Berry :  Many  thanks  for  your  last 
favor  and  for  the  copy  of  the  Neosho  Journal. 
When  I  think  on  the  old  times  mentioned  in  the 
Journal,  and  call  to  mind  the  many  events  we 
passed  thru  in  those  days,  it  seems  to  me  that  I 
am  dreaming!  When  I  think  on  the  number  of 
friends  who  were  sharing  with  me  the  pleasures 
and  troubles  of  a  pioneer  missionary  life,  I 
wonder  that  I,  in  preference  of  so  many  of  my 
companions,  have  been  spared  to  this  day.  Now 
I  find  myself  on  the  decline,  and  I  hope  that  God, 
who  has  been  so  merciful  to  me  in  the  past,  will 
continue  to  kindly  assist  me  to  the  end.  *  *  * 
Father  Masterson  is  as  usual.  Please  remember 
me  to  all  my  friends.  May  the  Lord  bless  you 
all.    Respectfully, 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago, 
September  9,    1895. 
Miss  Susie  Berry,  P.  X. : 

Bad  news  run  fast.  If  I  do  not  mistake  last 
Saturday  evening  some  one  told  me  that  St.  Ann's 


122        LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Academy  was  burned  to  the  ground.  I  could 
hardly  believe  it,  and  was  kept  in  painful  sus- 
pense, till  to-day  I  got  the  town  paper  you  so 
kindly  sent  me.  I  am  very  sorry  for  the  loss 
the  poor  Sisters  have,  and  I  thank  God  for  hav- 
ing spared  the  church  and  the  old  Fathers'  house, 
where  now  the  Sisters  have  found  a  shelter.  It 
has  been  a  terrible  accident.  But  God  has  per- 
mitted it  and  we  can  but  say  "Thy  will  be  done." 
I  hope  that  as  gold  comes  out  of  the  crucible 
more  shining  than  when  it  was  laid  in,  so  will 
new  St.  x\nn's  Academy  come  out  of  the 
present  ruins  more  bright  that  the  old  was.  May 
God  bless  you  all. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 


St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago, 
February  20,  1896. 
Dear  Friend :  Thank  you  for  your  kind  favor 
of  the  15th  inst.  Here  we  have  just  now  a 
severe  win  ter.  Snow  and  snow  again  seems  to 
be  the  order  of  the  day.  Pedestrians  complain 
bitterly,  but  the  poor  people  working  at  cleaning 
off  the  streets  are  rejoicing  for  it,  and  so  goes 
the  world,  as  it  has  always  been,  what  sometimes 
is  a  trouble  to  one  is  good  luck  to  another.  I 
see  from  yours  that  St.  Paul's  town  'too  has  its 
troubles!  Well,  there  is  no  remedy.  Take  it 
easy  and  look  for  better  days  to  come.  *  *  * 
When  you  will  go  to  see  the  Sisters  please  re- 
member me  to  them.  To  all  the  rest  of  my  dear 
friends,  tell  them  that  I  have  them  all  present 
in  my  mind  when  I  am  at  the  altar.  May  God 
bless  you  all. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 


W^E  AND  LETTERS  OF  FATHER  PAUL.    12^ 

St.  Ignatius  College,  Chicago, 
January  14,  1897. 

Miss  Susie  Berry :  Never  too  late  to  exchange 
happy  greetings,  hence  I  do  thank  you  for  yours, 
and  in  return  this  comes  to  you  full  of  mine, 
which  I  wish  you  divide  between  your  father, 
mother  and  sisters.  How  much  I  did  enjoy  see- 
ing from  yours  that  you  were  all  well.  *  *  * 
I  con  tinue  to  be  in  this  college,  and  Father  M. 
Brongist,  your  old  friend,  is  also  here  with  me. 
Father  Condon  has  some  two  years  since  gone 
to  Cincinnati,  and  the  last  news  I  had  of  him 
were  good. 

Times  here  are  not  very  good.  I  hope  that 
with  you  things  will  do  better  and  that  your 
father  will  be  kept  occupied  at  his  work.  I  felt 
very  glad  seeing  that  your  fair  has  been  a  suc- 
cess ;  but  1  am  very  sorry  when  I  think  that  the 
Sisiters  of  Loretto  have  left  you.  However,  I 
am  sure  that  the  Ursilines  will  soon  be  as  ac- 
ceptable to  the  people  as  the  Lorettines  used  to 
be.  Please  remember  me  to  my  old  friends  and 
assure  them  all  tha  t  I  cannot  forget  them :  and  I 
frequently  pray  to  God  to  bless  them  all 

Respectfully. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

Holy  Family  Church,  Chicago, 
October  10,  1898. 

Miss  Susie  Berry:  *  *  *  I  feel  happy 
seeing  that  you  keep  on  improving  your  church. 
A  good  organ  is  most  certainly  a  great  auxiliary 
to  promote  devotion.  If  I  had  a  treasury  at  my 
disposal,  would  willingly  divide  with  you  for 
such  a  purpose ;  this,  however,  not  being  the  case, 
I  sent  in  this  one  dollar  which  was  given  to  me 
yesterday. 

Give  my  best  respects  to  the   fathers  of   St. 


124        Llt'Ii  AND  LHTTKRS  OF  FATHER  PAUL. 

Francis'  church  and  remember  me  to  your  good 
parents  and  sisters.  Tell  your  mother  to  hold 
on,  and  be  thankful  to  God  for  all,  even  for  her 
infimiities  now  so  long  and  tell  her  not  to  for- 
get that  these  are  every  day  more  and  more  beau- 
tifying the  crown  God  will  give  her  in  heaven. 
May  God  bless  you  all. 

Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 

Holy  Family  Church,  Chicago, 
March  17,  1898. 

Dear  Friend  :  Yours  of  the  14th  inst.  with  its 
contains,  have  been  duly  received,  and  made  me 
feel  to  be,  as  it  were,  once  more  at  home  with 
you  all.  I  thank  your  dear  mother  and  father 
and  sisters  for  the  kind  greetings  you  do  send 
me  on  account  of  my  jubilee.  ^Vell  be  sure  that 
on  that  day,  you  all  shall  have  a  large  and  most 
fervent  share  in  my  prayers. 

I  am  sorry  to  see  that  you  and  many  of  our 
friends  are  so  far  disappointed  in  what  concerns 
the  return  of  the  Sisters  of  Loretto.  Well  the 
judgments  of  God  are  unsearchable,  but  never 
damaging,  and  always  directed  for  the  better, 
tho  this  does  not  show  itself  at  once,  and  may  as 
yet  be  very  slow  coming.  MIeanwhile  all  we 
must  do  is  to  resign.  As  your  wishes  are  for  a 
thing  which  is  most  holy,  I  still  feel  an  inward 
presentiment  that  you  will  be  some  way  or  other 
satisfied.  Be  happy  therefore  and  give  my  love 
to  the  whole  of  your  family,  especially  to  your 
father  and  mother.  Tell  mother  to  keep  on  tak- 
ing the  medicine  I  used  to  prescribe  her — patience 
and  a  big  dose  of  1  :.  May  God  bless  you  all. 
Paul  M.  Ponziglione,  S.  J. 


^ 


ST. 


Ann's  acndemy,  main  building, 

ERECTED  1870,  BURNED  1895. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  OSAGES. 

A  noble  race !  but  they  are  gone. 
With  their  old  prairies  wide  and  deep, 
And  we  have  built  our  homes  upon 
Fields  where   their  generatiofus  sleep. 


■Bryant. 


The  Osages  are  mentioned  by  Father  Mar- 
quette in  his  story  of  his  trip  down  the  Missis- 
sippi in  1673  as  the  "Ouchage,"  and  by  La  Salle 
in  1782.  In  those  days  the  Osages  were  one  of 
the  most  powerful  tribes  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river.  They  occupied  about  seventeen  villages 
in  eastern  Missouri  near  the  Missouri  river. 
Father  Membre,  a  companion  of  Ua  Salle,  called 
the  Missouri  river  the  Osage,  doubtless  because 
of  the  large  number  of  Osage  Indians  they  found 
near  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi.  The 
Osage  Indian  Herald  stated  in  i876,that  St.  Louis 
and  Kansas  City  were  once  Osage  trading  posts, 
and  that  the  famous  Choteau  mansion  in  St. 
Louis  was  built  by  a  family  of  French  traders 
whb  intermarried  with  the  Osages,  that  name 
being  frequently  mentioned  in  the  subsequent 
history  of  the  tribe. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Nineteenth  Century 
the  Osages  claimed  all  the  country  lying  south  of 
the  Missouri  and  Kansas  rivers,  as  far  west  as 
the  head  waters  of  the  latter  stream,  and  in  their 
hunting  excursions  they  roamed  all  over  the  vast 
territory  between  the  Mississippi  river  and  the 

(t2s^ 


126  TH^  OSAG^S. 

Rocky  mountains.  Because  of  tribal  differences, 
part  of  the  Osages  under  Chief  Clermont,  came 
west  in  1796  and  settled  on  the  Verdigris  river. 
About  this  time  there  were  also  Osage  settlements 
made  in  Vernon  and  Bates  counties  in  Missouri. 
The  first  settlement  on  the  Neosho  river  was 
made  some  time  prior  to  1820.  In  that  year  the 
Big  Osa^ges  had  one  settlement  of  400  and  the 
Little  Osages  three  settlements  or  villages  of 
about  1,000,  on  the  Neosho  river. 

By  the  treaty  of  June  2,  1825,  the  Osages  gave 
up  all  their  claims  to  land  in  Missouri  and  Ar- 
kansas and  those  members  of  the  tribe  that  had 
remained  near  St.  Louis  and  other  eastern  points 
in  Missouri  came  west  and  settled  near  the  Neo- 
sho and  Verdigris  rivers.  Here  they  remained 
until  they  moved  to  their  present  location  in 
Oklahoma  nearly  half  a  century  later. 

The  Osages,  altho  a  powerful  nation,  were 
much  more  peacable  than  many  other  tribes,  and 
altho  they  had  wars  with  other  Indian  tribes,  they 
caused  the  government  little  trouble.  On  the 
other  hand  the  government  has  dealt  generously 
with  the  Osages  which  is  one  of  the  reasons  the 
Osages  are  so  wealthy  at  the  present  time. 

A  story  is  told  that  when  the  Osages  were 
coming  west  after  their  treaty  of  1825,  they  ar- 
rived near  where  the  town  of  Walnut,  Kansas, 
now  stands,  where  there  was  not  much  water  or 
timber  to  be  found.  There  they  stopped  while 
they  sent  out  a  scouting  party  to  select  a  loca- 
tion for  their  settlement.  The  scouts  went 
southwestward  and  soon  came  to  a  long  stretch 
of  timber,  and  a  clear  beautiful  stream.  The 
chief  was  pleased  with  the  report  of  the  scouts 
and  the  entire  band  set  out  for  the  river.  Those 
who  arrived  at  the  river  first  rode  into  the  water 
to  let  their  horses  drink.    When  the  chief  arriv- 


THE  0SAGE:S.  127 

ed  a  few  minutes  later  he  found  ,the  river  the 
opposite  of  "beautiful  and  clear,"  and  he  repri- 
manded the  scouts  for  their  misrepresentation, 
and  from  this  incident  the  river  was  given  the 
name  ''Neosho,"  which  means  "water  made  mud- 
dy." 

Washington  Irving,  in  his  "Tour  of  the  Prair- 
ies," describes  the  Osages  as  "Stately  fellows, 
stern  and  simple  in  garb  and  aspect.  They  wore 
no  ornaments;  their  dress  consisted  of  blankets, 
leggins  and  moccasins;  their  heads  were  bare; 
their  hair  was  cropped  close  except  a  bristling 
ridge  on  the  top  like  the  crest  of  a  helmet,  with 
a  long  scalp  lock  hanging  behind.  They  had  fine 
Roman  countenances  and  broad,  deep  chests.  The 
Osages  are  the  finest  looking  Indians  I  have 
seen  in  the  west." 

The  moral  state  of  the  Osages  is  not  much 
mentioned  by  the  early  writers,  but  Rev.  Benson 
Prixley,  who  established  a  Presbyterian  mission 
at  a  point  he  called  "Neosho,"  in  1827,  wrote  an 
article  for  the  HeraU,  published  by  the  Arnerican 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions, 
in  which  he  made  the  following  statements : 

"It  is  now  fully  three  years  since  I  came  upon 
this  ground  with  my  little  family.  We  found 
the  natives  in  appearance  to  have  nothing  of 
that  savage  ferocity,  so  often  ascribed  as  inher- 
ent in  the  features  or  manifested  in  the  manners 
of  the  red  men  of  the  forest.  They  seem  to  be 
bold  and  pleasant,  frank  and  hospitable.  A 
stranger  just  passing  thru  their  towns  with  but 
a  superfcial  acquaintance  would  have  a  most 
favorable  opinion  of  their  character  and  could 
scarce  conceive  the  moral  turpitude  and  degre- 
dation,  in  which  they  were  involved.  But  alas 
how  mistaken  have  been  the  opinions  of  many 
with  respect  to  the  virtue  and  happiness  of  the 


128  the;  OS  ages. 

children  of  nature,  possessin»g  a  country  that  is 
scarcely  surpassed  by  any  in  facility  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  capable  of  producing  almost  any  deli- 
cate fruit  and  vegetable,  these  children  of  nature 
nevertheless  are  often  reduced  to  the  last  extrem- 
ity, as  a  white  man  would  suppose,  for  the  want 
of  food,  and  are  found  to  subsist  for  weeks  to- 
gether on  acorns,  and  on  roots  dug  out  of  the 
prairie,  and  for  no  other  reason  than  their  idle- 
ness and  improvidence. 

"Vice  reigns  everywhere.  The  shameless  ef- 
frontry  with  which  they  pollute  their  common 
discourse,  is  not  to  be  known,  except  to  a  man 
who  understands  their  language,  for  no  interpre- 
ter feels  at  liberty  to  communicate  fully  the  ideas 
they  express.  So  entirely  are  they  addicted  to 
lying,  that  no  confidence  can  be  placed  in  what 
they  say,  neither  do  they  pretend  to  place  con- 
fidence in  each  other.  And  their  intercourse 
formerly  with  white  people  has  been  such  as  to 
give  them  reason  to  suppose  that  other  men,  in 
this  respect,  are  not  very  different  from  them- 
selves. So  common,  also,  is  their  thieving  not 
from  white  people  and  enemies  only,  but  from 
one  another,  that  there  is  not  the  least  encourage- 
ment to  labour  and  acquire  property,  since  he 
who  plants  does  it  under  expectation  that  depre- 
dations will  be  practiced  upon  him.  Their  game 
has  been  so  abundant  that  they  have  felt  little 
need  of  agricultural  labours  and  have  consequent- 
ly established  a  habit  of  considering  it  dishon- 
orable to  do  much  besides  hunting  and  going  to 
war. 

"You  ask  how  this  people  live?  If  by  living 
be  meant  place,  manners  and  accommodations — 
in  the  summer  it  is  on  the  prairies,  in  the  winter 
in  the  village  huts ;  three  months  perhaps  in  these 
huts  and  betwixt  two  or  three  months  on  the 


'I HI-:  USAGES.  129 

prairie,  the  rest  of  the  time  they  are  scattered 
here  and  there,  a  few  families  together,  hunting, 
moving  every  day  or  two  and  lodging  where  night 
overtakes  them.  Their  accommodations  are  few 
and  simple.  A  few  wooden  dishes,  tw^o  or  three 
horn  spoons,  a  knife,  and  a  kettle  or  two,  make 
up  the  amount  of  their  household  furniture. 
Their  houses  and  manner  of  building  them  is 
equally  rude.  They  set  two  rows  of  poles  in 
the  ground  of  a  different  width  for  their  ac- 
commodation, and  bring  them  together  in  a 
curve  at  the  top.  These  they  cover  with  flags 
or  buffalo  hides  and  when  in  their  towns  have 
mats  laid  upon  the  ground  to  recline  and  sleep 
upon.  Their  food,  while  in  the  towns,  is  prin- 
cipally jerked  meat,  boiled  corn,  dried  pumpkins 
and  beans.  Wild  fruits,  acorns  and  other  nuts, 
in  the  season  of  them,  make  up  what  is  lacking, 
and  wdien  tlieir  provisions  are  exhausted  they 
move  oi¥  on  their  hunts.  If  they  kill  nothing 
the  second  or  even  the  third  day,  they  are  not 
alarmed.  Acorns  or  roots  of  the  prairie  are  still 
at  hand  to  supply  them  with  a  supper,  so  that  the 
fear  of  starving  is  the  last  thing  that  would  be 
likely  to  enter  an  Osage  mind. 

"The  women  plant  the  corn,  fetch  the  wood, 
cook  the  food,  dress  the  deerskins,  dry  their  meat, 
make  their  moccasins,  do  all  the  business  of 
moving,  pack  and  unpack  their  horses  and  even 
saddle  and  unsaddle  the  horses  on  which  their 
husbands  and  other  male  kindred  ride,  while  the 
men  only  hunt  and  war,  and,  when  in  their 
towns,  go  from  lodge  to  lodge  to  eat  and  drink 
and  smoke  and  play  at  cards  and  sleep.  For 
them  it  is  no  ill  manners  to  doze  away  some  hours 
of  the  day  in  a  neighbor's  lodge. 

"When  I  tell  them  I  came  to  teach  them  the 
word    of   God    they    sometimes    sneeringly    ask. 


130  the:  osages. 

'Where  is  God?  Have  you  seen  Him?'  And 
then  laugh  that  I  should  think  of  making  them 
believe  a  thing  so  incredible  as  a  being  who  sees 
and  takes  knowledge  of  them,  while  they  can- 
not see  Him.  They  indeed  call  the  earth,  sun  and 
moon,  thunder  and  lightning,  God,  but  their  con- 
ceptions on  this  subject  are  altogether  indefinite 
and  confused.  Of  a  future  state  of  rewards  and 
punishments  they  have  no  conception.  Some  in- 
deed, perhaps  the  generality  of  them,  have  some 
confused  ideas  of  a  future  state  of  existence, 
and  suppose  if  they  are  painted,  when  they  die, 
according  to  the  peculiar  mark  of  their  family, 
they  shall  be  known  and  join  those  of  their  rela- 
tives who  have  died  and  gone  before  them.  But 
these  ideas  are  only  what  might  be  called  the  tra- 
ditions and  superstitions  of  the  common  people, 
and  are  regarded  as  foolishness  by  others,  who 
in  their  philosophic  pride,  treat  it  as  a  chimera. 
Yet  oi  all  creatures,  they  seem  most  subject  to 
supernatural  fear  and  alarms.  Darkness  presents 
so  many  terrors  to  their  imaginations,  especially 
around  their  towns  where  their  dead  are  buried, 
that  few  have  courage  to  go  abroad  at  night  be- 
yond the  light  of  their  own  dwellings." 

Father  Bax,  S.  J.,  who  came  to  the  Osages 
with  Father  Schoenmakers  in  1847,  denies  that 
thieving  and  lying  was  more  prevalent  among 
the  Osages  at  that  time,  than  among  ordinary 
people.  The  letters  of  Father  Bax  appear  else- 
where in  this  book,  and  contain  much  informa- 
tion about  the  Osages. 

Father  Ponziglione's  letters,  also  published  m 
this  book,  tell  much  of  the  Osages. 

Father  Schoenmakers  wrote  an  article  which 
was  published  in  the  Indian  Herald,  May  31, 
1876,  in  which  he  tells  of  the  Osages  as  he  saw 
them.     His  article  is  as  follows: 


THE  OSAGKS.  131 

''The  states  of  Missouri  and  Arkansas  were 
once  territory  belonging  to  the  Osages,  and  some 
of  the  tribe  who  lived  in  1847  were  born  where 
now  is  the  city  of  Jefferson,  and  also  along  the 
Osage  River,  Missouri.  They  had  a  school  near 
Pappinsville,  in  Bates  county.  In  1847  several 
half-breeds  of  the  tribe  had  still  farms  on  the 
Marmaton  River  near  Ft.  Scott.  The  tribe  had 
now  come  to  'Kansas,  and  numbered  5,000,  where 
whiskey  did  much  harm  among  all  classes.  The 
Great  George  White  Hair  had  a  double  log  house 
for  a  dwelling  place  on  a  large  farm,  and  owned 
a  large  saw  and  grist  mill  five  miles  from  Mis- 
sion town.  This  property  the  Osages  destroyed 
by  fire,  as  it  did  not  pay  expenses.  The  White 
Hair  band  was  kept  within  a  few  miles  of  the 
Mission  school,  and  during  the  summer  months 
the  young  men  were  always  ready  to  work  on  the 
farm,  and  to  split  rails  or  firewood  in  winter. 
Clammor  town  was  then  where  now  is  the  town 
of  Coffeyville,  on  the  Verdigris  River,  Black 
Dog  and  Wolf  towns  were  only  three  miles  dis- 
tant. The  Big  Hills  were  located  ten  or  more 
miles  away,  sometimes  north  and  at  other  times 
south  of  the  Verdigris.  The  Little  Osages  came 
formerly  from  Missouri  and  had  joined:  the 
Great  Osages  and  in  1847  were  living  south  of 
the  Neosho  river.  The  Owl  family,  however, 
pushed  a  few  miles  away  and  up  Big  Creek.  In 
1850  the  number  of  Osage  children  began  greatly 
to  increase,  but  in  1852  fell  victims  to  disease 
and  800  died  of  measles.  Scurvey,  a  disease 
which  is  more  generally  thought  to  belong  to 
sailors  and  those  whose  lives  are  spent  upon  the 
seas,  then  appeared  v/ith  its  train  of  alarming 
effects,  and  of  the  400  who  lived  near  the  Mis- 
sion, forty  died  of  this  disease  within  one  month. 
The  tribe  was  also  visited  by  small  pox.  some 


132  THI$   0SAGE:S 

even  suffering  the  third  attack.  In  i860  health 
and  hope  again  prevailed ;  the  Little  Osages  com- 
menced laising  corn  and  beans.  The  White  Hair 
band  fenced  large  fields,  built  houses,  and  raised, 
cattle  and  hogs.  The  Big  Hills  emulated  their 
example,  but  the  civil  war  that  followed  so  soon, 
destroyed  their  fields,  houses,  cattle  and  other 
stock,  and  blasted  even  their  hopes. 

"John  Schoenmakers,   S.  J." 

SOME    OSAGE    HISTORY. 

An  interview  with  Father  Paul  under  the 
above  title  and  signed  "N,"  was  published  in  the 
Oswego  (Kansas)  Graphic,  I>ecember  13,  1882. 
It  was  as  follows: 

"Father  Ponziglione,  of  Osage  Mission,  called 
upon  us  the  other  day,  and  gave  an  account  of 
his  life  here  on  the  Neosho  since  '51.  This  rev- 
erend gentleman  bears  his  age  well,  altho  he  rides 
in  an  ambulance  in  his  ministerial  work  among 
the  Indians  south  of  us. 

''He  SLys  the  Neosho  country  was  once  full  of 
bears,  but  the  Osages  killed  them  off  when  they 
came  here.  Once  an  Indian  had  a  captive  Mexi- 
can woman  and  child ;  he  ordered  the  woman 
to  ,go  to  the  creek  and  get  him  some  water  to 
drink,  and  when  she  went  to  get  the  water  he  shot 
her.  The  priests  took  the  child  and  ran  it  over 
into  Missouri,  out  of  harm. 

"Rev.  P.  says  the  Osages  were  settled  in  many 
places  along  the  Neosho,  farming.  White  Hair's 
village  was  a  little  north  of  Oswego,  and  Black 
Dog  had  a  village  over  on  the  Verdigris  river. 
The  Indians  heaped  rocks  over  their  dead. 

"John  Matthews  had  two  wives,  both  half- 
breeds,  and  one  after  the  other  died;  his  little 
girl  burned  to  death  in  a  prairie  fire.    One  of  the 


THK  OSAGES.  133 

boys  is  now  in  Texas,  and  the  rest  of  the  family 
in  the  Territory.  John  Matthews  was  the  ear- 
liest white  man  here,  and  another  Matthews  liv- 
ed a  few  miles  north  of  Oswego,  perhaps  near 
Col.  SwanFwick's  farm.  Matthe^/s'  house  at 
Oswego,  was  a  hewed  log  house,  with  a  porch 
between  two  rooms.  He  was  killed  by  Gen. 
Blont;  about  thirty  men  were  in  the  house  asleep, 
when  Blont  came  upon  them.  Matthews  awoke 
and  took  up  his  gun  and  was  shot  dead,  no  one 
else  was  killed,  but  the  house  was  burned.  Con- 
siderable settlement  was  made  at  Montana  be- 
fore the  war.  A  great  deal  of  fighting  and  burn- 
ing took  place  in  the  Territory  during  the  war. 
Rev.  P.  thinks  the  Indians  have  a  knowledge  of 
silver  mines  east  of  Ft.  Gibson. 

*'The  Father  spoke  of  Samuel  Short  and  his 
house  and  settlement.  Short  claims  that  all  the 
Rebel  Stan  wait  left  him  when  he  made  a  raid 
thru  here  was  a  cedar  bucket  and  his  commercial 
diploma,  both  of  which  were  put  in  the  Oswego 
Reading  Room.  A  grave  stone  of  young  Mat- 
thews was  taken  and  preserve^!  by  the  Labette 
County  Historical  Society.  M^atthews'  race  track, 
we  are  told,  was  south  of  Oswego,  from  Sheriff 
Bender's  residence  to  \Vm.  Sanford's  farm.  His 
field  was  along  Third  Avenue  as  far  west  as  the 
Baptist  church,  and  south  from  the  east  end  of 
the  church  to  Mr.  Winton's  residence,  then  back 
to  Third  Avenue.  The  old  government  road 
came  from,  the  north  along  the  heads  of  the  ra- 
vines near  Mr.  Raymond's  residence,  then  a 
little  north  of  the  old  stone  school  house,  to 
John  Kennear's  house,  and  down  the  bluff  near 
the  old  brewery.  The  spring  in  the  east  part  of 
Oswego  was  a  famous  camping  ground  for  emi- 
grants and  travelers.  Once  a  park  of  artillery 
was  placed  on  the  ridge  south  of  the  old  brewery 


134  THi:  OS  AGES. 

and  north  of  Wm.  Sanford's  farm  house,  and  the 
woods  along  the  Neosho,  at  Harrison's  Bend 
and  around  were  shelled  to  drive  away  guerillas. 
Silverware  has  been  found  in  the  woods  south 
of  Oswego,  and  evidences  of  camps  also. 

"v^amuel  Short  said  the  guerillas  would  go 
over  to  Missouri,  rob  and  burn  houses,  and  es- 
cape here  with  their  plunder.  Sometimes  men 
had  their  feet  burned  to  make  them  tell  where 
their  money  and  silverware  might  be  found.  Mr. 
Gaylor  found  the  marks  of  an  axe  in  a  walnut 
log  on  the  Marley  farm,  east  of  the  Neosho  riv- 
er, 12  rings  from  the  bark.  Perhaps  20  years 
have  elapsed  since  the  tree  died,  this  would  make 
the  cutting  done  near  the  Revolutionar}^  War, 
and  the  evidence  of  the  white  man's  agency  in 
these  parts  a  long  time  ago. 

*Xet  us  by  all  means  keep  alive  these  old  land 
marks." 

"During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,"  writes  a 
Kansas  historian,  "the  Osages  suffered  much 
depredations  of  various  kinds.  Their  newly 
built  houses  were  torn  down,  their  crops  destroy- 
ed, and  their  hogs  and  cattle  stolen."  These 
depredations  were  the  work  of  guerillas  and  un- 
friendly Cherokees  who  came  up  from  the  south. 
Becoming  discouraged  with  their  prospects,  in 
1865  they  ceded  to  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment a  strip  off  the  east  end  of  their  reservation, 
fifty  by  thirty  miles  in  extent,  containing  9.600,- 
000^  acres  for  $300,000 ;  the  money  to  be  deposit- 
ed in  the  treasury  of  the  United  States  and  to 
draw  five  per  cent  interest,  the  interest  to  be 
paid  to  them  semi-annually  in  monev,  clothing, 
provisions  or  «uch  articles  of  utility  as  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Interior  might  from  time  to  time 
direct.     At  the  same  time  thev  also  transferred 


THE  OSAGES.  135 

in  trust  to  the  government  to  be  sold  for  their 
benefit  a  strip  off  the  north  of  the  balance  of 
their  reservation,  twenty  miles  in  width  from 
north  to  south  and  extending  to  the  west  limits 
of  their  reservation.  The  reservation  thus  re- 
duced was  called  the  'Diminished  Osage  Re- 
serve.'  The  Osages  of  the  Neosho  then  moved 
over  to  the  Verdigris  and  farther  west.  In  1870 
they  sold  the  remainder  of  their  land  to  the  gov- 
ernment for  $1.25  per  acre  and  moved  to  their 
present  location  in  Oklahoma. 

The  Osages  still  reside  in  the  Osage  Nation, 
Oklahoma,  and  are  regarded  as  the  richest  race 
of  people  in  the  world.  In  June  191 3,  these 
Osages  numbered  about  2,000  and  had  $7,024,- 
564.63  deposited  to  their  credit,  and  own  1,400,- 
000  acres  of  land  in  the  Osage  Nation  on  much 
of  which  there  are  now  producing  oil  wells  from 
which  the  Osages  receive  handsome  royalties. 
*     * 

Mat  Duhr.  writing  from  Pawhuska,  the  cap- 
ital of  the  Osage  Nation,  for  the  Catholic  Ad- 
vance, a  few  months  ago,  said : 

"The  large  amount  of  money  disbursed  to  the 
2,300  Osage  Indians,  the  2,600  producing  oil 
and  gas  wells  and  the  large  cattle  pasturing  busi- 
ness, supply  the  financial  arteries  of  this  town 
with  much  life  blood.  These  Indians,  the  richest 
tribe  in  America,  should  thank  the  late  leather 
Schoenmakers,  who  was  for  many  }/ears  a  mis- 
sionary among  them_,  for  their  large  tribal  trust 
fund  in  the  national  treasury. 

"They  would  have  received  only  25  cents  per 
acre  for  their  land  in  Kansas  if  Father  Schoen- 
makers hadn't  interceded  for  them  and  induced 
the  government  to  pay  them  $1.25  per  acre^ 

"The  $9,000,000  Osage  trust  fund  was  the  re- 
sult. 


136  THK,  OS  AGES. 

''The  70  congressional  townships  comprising 
the  county  were  visited  by  some  of  the  early 
Catholic  missionaries,  and  the  famous  Washing- 
ton Irving  traveled  thru  southeastern  Osage 
county  in  1832. 

''Father  De  Smet  was  here  70  years  ago; 
Father  Ponziglione  administered  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  these  Indians  during  many  years*  Fath- 
er Felix  de  Grass,  of  Sacred  Heart,  Okla.,  often 
came  to  this  place  and  united  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
F.  Palmer  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony. 

"About  800  members  of  the  Osage  tribe  are 
Catholics.  Many  of  the  650  fullblooded  Wash- 
ashies  are  nominal  Catholics  but  they  are  still 
believers  in  the  heathen  superstitions  of  their 
savage  forefathers.  They  wear  blankets  and 
moccasins,  the  squaws  carry  their  $50,000  pa- 
pooses on  their  backs ;  they  howl  over  their  dead. 
Many  of  the  fullblooded  adults  belong  to  the 
Wah-ho-peh  secret  order ;  they  believe  in  spooks 
and  adore  the  turtle  dove. 

"Nearly  one  hundred  Osage  girls,  mostly  mix- 
ed bloods,  are  taken  care  of  at  the  Catholic  Sis- 
ters' building  in  this  locality.  That  large  edi- 
fice was  constructed  about  25  years  ago  by  re- 
quest of  Sister  Katherine  Drexel,  who  paid  all 
the  expenses — and  has  done  much  to  keep  the 
institution  going  ever  since. 

"It  appears  that  the  government  school  here  is 
a  failure.  Only  about  50  or  60  Indian  boys  at- 
tend it.  The  others  go  to  the  public  school  and 
to  the  Sisters'  school. 

"Many  of  the  Osages  are  in  favor  of  abolish- 
ing the  Osage  agency  school.  The  agency  ex- 
pended $40,000  of  Osage  money  last  year. 

"Several  of  the  mixed  bloods  are  pretty  good 
farmers  and  stock-raisers.  Messrs.  John  Liim, 
William  Leahy  and  others  are  good   Catholics, 


THE  OSAGES.  137 

good  Indians  and  good  citizens.  Mr.  John  F. 
Palmer,  the  noted  lawyer,  orator,  tree  planter, 
horse-raiser  and  scholar  is  a  fullblooded  Sioux, 
but  was  adopted  by  the  Osages  when  a  young 
man.  He  is  married  to  an  amiable  lady'  of  the 
Osage  tribe  who,  however,  is  apparently  a  pure 
Caucasian. 

"This  city  is  a  beautifully  located  metropolis. 
Being  in  the  valley  of  Bird  creek,  it  is  encircled 
by  lofty  hills  that  are  deposits  of  good  building 
stone  and  brick  shale.  Natural  gas  is  so  plenti- 
ful here  that  factories  can  buy  it  for  2  cents  a 
1,000  feet. 

** About  900,000  acres  of  Osage  county,  Okla., 
has  never  been  touched  by  plow  or  hoe." 

An  incident  in  the  life  of  Chief  Whitehair,  as 
told  by  Julia  Captain,  an  Osage,  illustrates  the 
good  influences  Fathers  Schoenmakers  and  Pon- 
ziglione  exerted  over  the  Indians : 

Chief  Whitehair  was  the  son  of  Little  White- 
hair,  a  distant  relative  of  George  Whitehair.  He 
was  born  in  Neosho  county  in  1834  and  lived 
there  until  1867  when  he  moved  to  the  "dimin- 
ished reserve''  on  the  Verdigris.  His  parents 
married  him  at  an  early  age  to  two  women  ac- 
cording to  the  Osage  custom.  When  our  good 
missionary  rebuked  him  for  the  way  he  had  done, 
that  he  wished  him  to  become  a  good  Christian 
but  that  he  could  never  do  so  and  live  with  two 
women  for  it  was  against  the  laws  of  Christian- 
ity, he  said :  "Father,  it  is  so ;  I  have  done  so 
thru  the  will  of  my  parents  and  if  1  have  the 
misfortune  to  lose  one  of  them  I  will  marry  the 
other  one  according  to  the  Christian  law,  fulfil* 
your  wishes  by  becoming  a  good  Christian."  But 
as  misfortune  visits  where  it  is  least  expected,  it 
likewise  visited  Whitehair's  family.    It  took  both 


138  the:  OS  ages. 

of  his  wives  and  all  of  his  children  except  a  son 
who  still  lives.  He  mourned  their  loss  according 
to  the  rules  of  his  people,  when  he  was  baptised 
and  married  again  according  as  he  promised  to 
one  wife  and  lived  with  her  until  his  death.  A 
few  hours  before  he  expired  (December  24, 
1869)  he  called  his  friends  together  and  told 
them  that  God  had  made  all  mankind  to  die,  and 
that  his  time  had  come;  that  he  wished  that  his 
stepson  should  reign  in  his  place.  He  wished 
his  own  son  to  remain  at  school  and  grow  up  an 
educated  man.  He  told  them  they  had  many 
troubles  before  them,  but  they  must  live  friends 
and  unite,  and  he  hoped  they  would  overcome  all. 
Whitehair  was  no  warrior.  He  had  been 
taught  at  an  early  age  by  our  good  missionaries 
that  God  was  the  great  avenger  of  all  wrongs, 
and  that  it  was  wrong  for  us  to  take  revenge  even 
from  an  enemy,  which  good  advice  he  was  al- 
ways willing  to  take. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ANTECEDENTS    OF   THE    MISSION. 

Christianity  has  carried  civilisation  along  with 
it  wherever  it  has  gone. — Hare. 

Events  which  had  a  bearing  on  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Osage  Mission  may  be  traced  back 
to  the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth  century.  The 
Osages  themselves  appear  to  have  been  greatly 
responsible  for  it,  altho  at  that  time  their  home 
was  in  eastern  Missouri. 

In  1820  a  delegation  of  Osages  called  upon  Rt. 
Rev.  William  Louis  Dubourg,  who  had  been  con- 
secrated Bishop  of  Upper  and  Lower  Louisiana, 
in  Rome  September  24,  181 5,  and  asked  him  to 
send  some  "black  gowns''  to  teach  their  people. 
The  seat  of  the  See  over  which  Bishop  Dubourg 
presided  was  seated  at  New  Orleans  but  be- 
cause of  unsettled  conditions  in  New  Orleans, 
he  made  his  headquarters  in  St.  Louis,  which 
at  that  time  was  also  the  home  of  a  considerable 
number  of  the  Osages.  He  therefore  knew  the 
conditions  and  needs  of  the  Osages  and  set 
about  to  gratify  their  desires. 

Bishop  Dubourg  applied  to  Father  .\iithony 
Kohlman,  then  provincial  of  the  Jesuits  in  Mary- 
land, to  send  some  Fathers  to  establish  a  school 
among  the  Osages,  but  Father  Kohlman  had  not 
the  priests  to  spare  and  Vv^as  not  then  able  to  com- 
ply with  the  bishop's  request  for  help. 

Early  in  1823  Bishop  Dubourg  went  to  Wash- 
ington for  the  purpose  of  consulting  President 
(139) 


140         antecKdKnts  of  the  mission. 

Monroe  and  Secretary  of  War,  John  C.  Calhoun 
on  the  subject  of  devising  means  of  educating 
the  children  of  the  Indian  tribes  within  his  dio- 
cese. He  was  kindly  received  by  these  'Courteous 
officials  and  during  his  interview  with  them  Mr. 
Calhoun  suggested  the  expediency  of  invitmg  the 
Jesuits  of  Georgetown,  Maryland,  to  furnish 
members  of  their  order  to  assist  in  that  work. 
The  bishop  then  laid  his  plans  before  Rev. 
Charles  Neale,  who  had  succeeded  Father  Kohl- 
man  in  the  office  of  provincial,  and  offered  him 
a  fertile  farm  near  St.  Louis  as  an  inducement. 
The  offer  was  readily  accepted,  for  other  events 
had  transpired  which  enabled  Father  Neale  to 
do  what  Father  Kohlman  could  not.. 

In  1820  Rev.  Charles  Nerinckx,  founder  of  the 
order  of  the  Sisters  of  Loretto,  went  to  Europe 
on  business  connected  with  his  missions  in  Ken- 
tuck3^  When  he  returned  to  the  United  States 
in  1 82 1,  he  was  accompanied  bv  a  number  of 
young  men,  most  of  vv^hom  w^ere  natives  of  Bel- 
gium, who  came  to  America  with  the  intention 
of  devoting  their  Iwes  to  priestly  and  missionary 
employments.  P.  J.  De  Smet,  Felix  Verreydt  and 
J.  A.  Elet  were  among  them.  Six  of  these  young 
men  were  admitted  as  novices  in  the  Jesuit  no- 
vitiate at  White  Alarsh,  Maryland,  October  6, 
1 821.  The  master  of  novices  at  White  Marsh 
was  Rev  Charles  Van  Ouickenborne,  a  Belgian 
priest  who  had  come  to  the  United  States  from 
Ghent  in  1817,  and  with  the  view  of  becoming  a 
missionary  among  the  Indians.  In  1823  Father 
Neale  and  Father  Van  Ouickenborne  decided  to 
transfer  the  novices  from  White  Marsh  to  St. 
Thomas'  Alanor,  in  Charles  county,  Maryland, 
because  of  the  impoverished  conditions  then  pre- 
vailing at  White  Marsh.  It  was  at  this  juncture 
that  Bishop  Dubourg,  acting  on  the  suggestion 


ANTECKDKNTS  O^   THE    MISSION.  I4I 

of  John  C.  Calhoun,  applied  for  the  second  thne 
to  the  Jesuits  for  help  in  the  western  missions. 
It  was  an  opportune  time  and  the  proposition  met 
with  the  favor  of  the  provincial,  Rev.  Charles 
Neale,  who    proposed  the  wish  of  the  bishop  to 
Father    Van    Quickenborne    and    expressed    his 
own  desire  for  the  pious  rector  of  White  Marsh 
to  be  the  leader  and  superior  of  a  band,  includ- 
ing such  of  the  novices  as  might  volunteer  to  ac- 
company him,  and  that  with  them  and  a  few  old- 
er members  lie  should  start  for  Missouri  as  soon 
as  necessary  arrangement  could  be  made.     Fath- 
er Van  Quickenborne  quickly  recognized  this  as 
an  opportunity  to  gratify  his  desire  to  become 
a  missionary  among  the  Indians,  and  readily  as- 
sented.    All  six  of   the  young  Belgian  novices 
volunteered   to   accompany   him.      Two   priests, 
seven    aspirants    for   the   priesthood,    three    lay 
brothers   and   three   families   of   negro   servants 
composed  the  Dartv  that  set  out  for  the  west  from 
White  Marsh/ April  11,  1823.  The  trip  to  Wheel- 
ing  was   made   on    foot   and   required   eighteen 
days.    At  Wlieeling  two  flat  boats  v/ere  purchas- 
ed and  on  these  they  made  the  trip  down  the 
Ohio  river  to  its  mouth.     From  there  they  made 
the  remainder  oi  the  journey  on  foot,  reaching 
the  site  of  East  St.  Louis,  May  31,  1823.     They 
arrived  at  Florissant,  Mo.,  their  destination,  June 
3,  1823,  and  established  the  headquarters  of  the 
Jesuits  in  the  west.     The  Jesuits  still  maintain 
a  novitiate   at   this   place.      The   little  band   of 
Jesuits  opened  a  school  for  Osage  Indian  chil- 
dren in   1824,  and  the  young  men  studying  tor 
the   priesthood    devoted   part   of   their   time   to 
teaching  the  Indian  children.     This  school  flour- 
ished  until   the   Indians  moved   to   the   Neosho 
when  the  Jesuits  turned  their  attention  to  teach- 
ing the  children  of  the  white  settlers  who  were 


142       ANTi:t^DE:Nts  6^  r-kiuissidvi. 

coming  m,''  and  soQki'  ^f #r  eMtiiislied  te  St. 
Louis  University,,  how  a  flourishing  iristitutiorii,' 

Shortly  after  the  Osages  applied  to  Bishop 
Dubourg  for  a  "black  gown,"  Rev.  F'r.  Charles 
pe  La  Croix  was  appointed  to  devote  his  time 
to  the  Indian  Missions,  and  the  records  of  St. 
Francis'  church  at  St.  Paul,  Kansas,  show  that 
Father  De  La  Croix  baptised  twelve  Osages  in 
1820.  As  these  records  were  sent  to  the  ''Osage 
Mission"  church  for  preservation,  it  is  quite 
probable  that  these  baptisms  v/ere  performed  on 
what  is  now  Kansas  soil,  or  just  across  the  line 
in  Missouri.  In  May,  1822,  Father  De  La  Croix 
is  known  to  have  visited  the  Osages  on  the  Neo- 
sho in  the  vicinity  of  where  the  Osage  Mission 
was  Icvler  established.  Here  on  May  5,  1822,  he 
baptised  Antone  Choteau.  Kansas  historians  say 
this  was  the  first  baptism  performed  in  what  now 
comprises  the  state  of  Kansas.  This  would  in- 
dicate that  they  did  not  know  of  Father  De  La 
Croix's  first  trip  west,  or  that  they  did  not  be- 
lieve he  came  as  far  west  as  the  Neosho. 

Father  De  La  Croix  was  preparing  to  build  a 
chapel  among  the  Osages  on  the  Neosho  when 
his  health  became  poor  from  exposure,  thus  com- 
pelling him  to  return  to  Missouri. 

Father  Van  Ouickenborne  prepared  to  take  up 
the  work  of  Father  De  La  Croix  without,  delay. 
He  began  active  work  personally  among  the 
Osages  near .  St.  Louis  soon  after  his  arrival 
tliere.  His  first  trip  west,  however, '  was  not 
made  until  1827  when  he  visited  t)ie  varioiis 
villages  of  the  Osages  on.  the  NeosJio,  Veriil- 
gris  and  Mahnaton  rivers.  He  made  a  second 
trip  to  the  Neosho  in  1^29,  and  another  in  1836. 
It  was  oil  this  trip  that,  he  performed  the  mar- 
riage ceremony  for.  Francis  A'ybean  and  Mary, 
an  Osage  woman,  that  is  said  by  Kansas  writers 


ANTECEbENTS  OF   THE    MISSION.  T43 

to  liave  been  the  fi rs^  weeding'  cefeniony  "^pl^- 
tomied  on  Kansas  soil.;  Hip  made  £^'',fourtli  y;s- 
jt  to  the  Dsages  in  1854. .  _/  , ;: "  ;;\  ^ 
.'  Father  H.  G.  Allen  or  Aeleri,,S.!  J'.,  succeeded 
J'ather  Van  Quickenborne.  This  Father  bap- 
tised a  large  number  of  Osages  in  1841  and  1842. 
The  records  at  the  '"Mission"  give  his  name  plain- 
ly as  "Allen/"  but  as  the  Jesuits  claim,  there  wa^ 
no  member  of  their  order  at  that  time  named 
Allen,  it  is  quite  probable  this  was  Father  Aelen, 
who  at  that  time  was  first  assistant  to  Father 
Christian  Hoecken  at  St  Mary^'s  Mission  among 
t"he  Pottawatomies.  ,\    1 

,  Father  F.  L.  Verreydt,  S.  J.,  succeeded  Father 
Aelen.  He,  too,  came  to  the  Osages  from  SL 
Mary's  Mission.  The  records  of  St.  Francis' 
.jQhurch  show  he  baptised  Osages  on  the  Neosho 
m  1843  and  1846.  He  was  the  immediate  pred- 
_^ecessor  of  Father  Schoenmakers.  and  may  have 
been  his  companion  to  the  Neosho  when  the  lat- 
ter, made  his  first  trip  to  his  future  home  in  1846. 
,-  Prior  to  1845  ^I'^e  Indian  Department  of  the 
.tiJnited ,  States  government  was  planning  to  es- 
tablish a  school  among  the  Osages  west  of  Miss- 
ouri, but  no  definite  action  appears  to  have  been 
taken  until  April  25,  1845,  when  the  sum  of 
$3,456  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Major  Harvey 
to  be  used  in  erecting  two  houses  and  the  neces- 
sary out-buildings,  one  of  the  houses  to  be  used 
as  a  school  for  the  Osage  Indian  boys  and  the 
other  for  the  Osage  girls.  These  houses  were  to 
be  of  sufficient  dimensions  to  accommodate 
twenty  pupils  each,  w^ith  the  teachers. 

Major  Harvey  entered  into  a  contract  with 
Father  ].  Van  De  V^elde,  who  had,  on  September 
17,  1843*  become  vice-provincial  of  the  JCvSuits  in 
Missouri.  This  contract  provided  that  the  Jesu- 
its take  charge  of  the  school,  that  the  govern- 


144  ANTE;CEDt:NTS   OF   THE    MISSION. 

ment  furnish  the  buildings  and  pay  the  Jesuits 
$55  per  year  for  board  and  tuition  of  each  pupil 
attending  the  school.  A  clause  of  the  contract 
specified  that  "in  virtue  of  this  contract,  no 
more  than  thirty-three  boys  can  be  admitted  into 
the  school  for  the  first  six  months,  beginning 
with  the  15th  of  April,  1847/'  Major  Harvey 
was  empowered  to  allow  an  increased  number  of 
boys  to  attend  the  school  as  the  funds  at  his 
disposal  would  permit. 

The  present  site  of  St.  Paul,  Kansas,  was  se- 
lected for  the  school  and  work  on  the  buildings 
was  started  as  soon  as  arrangements  could  be 
made.  Father  Van  de  Velde  selected  Father 
John  Schoenmakers  to  take  charge  of  the  school 
there  to  be  established.  In  1846  Father  Schoen- 
makers made  a  trip  to  the  Neosho  to  make  the 
preliminary  arrangements  for  the  establishment 
of  his  future  home.  After  a  short  stay,  he  re- 
turned to  St.  Louis  for  supplies  and  to  await  the 
completion  of  the  buildings.  On  April  29,  1847* 
Father  Schoenmakers  arrived  on  the  Neosho  to 
make  his  permanent  home  and  to  open  the  school 
for  the  Osages.  Thus  the  "Osage  Mission"  was 
established. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WESTERN    INDIAN    MISSION. 

The  following  article  appeared  in  the  Kansas 
Magazine  for  lune,  1872: 

A  few  davs  after  Easter  of  the  year  185 1,  the 
news  reached  the  Mission  that  Pius  IX  had  erect- 
ed the  Indian  territory  into  an  apostolic  vicariate, 
compri'^ing  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Colorado,  and 
that  the  Right  Reverend  John  B.  Miege  was  al- 
ready on  his  way  to  his  arduous  missions. 

Bishop  :^.liec^^e'left  St.  Louis  in  May,  1851.  with 
Rev  Paul  Ponziglione  and  two  lay  brothers,  went 
first  to  St.  Mary's  of  the  Pottawatomies,  and 
after  a  few  weeks,  in  the  company  of  Father 
Durink.  Superior  of  St.  Mary's,  Eather  Ponzigh- 
one  and  the  brothers,  went  across  the  vast  prai- 
ries and  reached  the  Osage  Mission  on  the  26th 
of  fune  The  iov  felt  by  the  Eathers  was  equal- 
ed 'only  by  that  of  the  Indians.  They  came  m 
oToups  to"see  the  Tapusca-lVafanka  (the  priest- 
ford  )  and  Day  him  their  homages. 

The  bishop  remained  a  fcw^  weeks  at  the  Alis- 
•^ion  acting  as  a  simple  missionary,  preachmg, 
baptising,  visiting  the  wigwams  and  instructing 
the  Indians.  Before  leaving,  he  solemnly  admin- 
istered the  sacrament  of  confirmation,  leavmg 
Father  Ponziglione  at  the  Mission. 

But  things  Were  too  prosperous;  some  afflic- 
tions were  at  hand.  The  time  of  trial  came  in 
October  The  health  of  Father  Schoenmakers 
failed  to  an  alarming  degree.  No  doctor  being 
at  hand,  he  was  taken  in  a  CMiimon  wagon  to 
(T45) 


146  WESTERN   INDIAN   MISSION. 

Fort  Scott,  and  placed  under  the  care  of  the 
doctors  at  the  fort.  Never  will  the  kindness  of 
officers,  doctors  and  soldiers  be  forgotten.  They 
all  vied  with  each  other  to  relieve  the  pains  of 
the  poor  sufferer;  while  Fathers  Bax  and  Pon- 
zigiione  visited  him  weekly  in  turn.  Thanks  to 
the  kindness  shown  Father  Schoenmakers,  he 
could  return  to  the  Mission  in  January,  1852,  in 
good  health,  perfectly  recovered. 

About  the  time  of  the  return  of  Father  Schoen- 
makers, George  White  Hair,  who  had  been  ailing 
for  some  time  became  very  sick.  The  Indians 
left  their  towns  and  came  in  great  numbers  to 
see  their  chief.  The  "Medicine-men"  also  offer- 
ed their  services.  The  venerable  old  chief  knew 
them,  thanked  them  kindly  for  their  attention, 
and  requested  them  to  leave  him  in  peace  and 
abstain  from  performing  superstitious  rites 
around  him,  for  he  was  a  Christian  and  desired 
to  die  a  Christian.  After  this,  he  placed  himself 
entirely  in  the  hands  of  Father  Bax  by  whom 
he  had  been  instructed  and  baptised.  Soon  after, 
he  received  the  last  rites  of  the  church,  and  the 
23rd  day  of  January  he  calmly  expired  to  enter 
a  better  life. 

The  death  of  White  Hair  was  a  terrible  blow. 
The  wild  Indians,  as  was  to  be  expected,  became 
furious  because  their  great  chief  had  died  with- 
out a  medicine-man  attending  him.  They  dis- 
liked to  see  him  buried  as  a  white  man.  He  was, 
a  brave,  they  said,  and  he  must  be  buried  as  a 
brave.  They  found  fault  with  all  the  attentions 
lavished  upon  him  by  Father  Bax.  Why  did  he 
talk  in  secret  to  their  chief?  Why  did  he  anoint 
him,  except  to  perform  a  bad  charm  upon  him? 

What  did  he  give  him  to  eat  that  he  called 
communion,  if  not  to  poison  him?  They  went 
about  sowing  dissatisfaction  among  the  ignor- 


WJ^STKRN    INDIAN   MISSION.  I.47 

ant^  saying  that  the  fathers  were  going  to  put 
their  chief  in  a  hole  like  a  dog  instead  of  burying 
him  with  all  the  honors  due  to  such  a  chief,  a 
brave — killing  his  horse  on  his  grave  and  hanging 
around  the  scalps  of  his  enemies.  They  went  so 
far  that  they  accused  the  Fathers  of  killing  him 
by  inducing  him  to  abandon  the  worship  of  his- 
nation  to  adopt  a  strange  one.  ''What  did  bap- 
tism avail  him?  /'He  displeased  the  Great  Spirit,, 
and  that  is  all,"  they  would  say.  Hence  they 
concluded  it  ^vas  useless  to  follow  such  a  belief, 
and  that  they  should  stand  by  their  old  ways.  Sev- 
eral who  were  preparing  to  receive  baptism  were 
discouraged ;  all  the  braves  mourned  for  their 
chief,  and  all  the  ceremonies  of  pagan  worship 
were  put  to  use. 

This  was  disheartening:  but  it  was  not  enough. 
A  Quapaw  Indian  went  from  his  country  to  visit 
his  daughter  who  was  at  school.  He  fell  sick 
on  the  way,  and  when  he  reached  the  Mission  he 
was  in  a  dying  state.  His  sickness  was  the  meas- 
les. The  man  was  kept  in  a  secluded  room,  but 
it  was  to  no  purpose.  The  infection  spread 
around  and  soon  one-half  of  the  children  were 
down  sick.  The  Mission  was  a  hospital.  All. 
care  was.  t^en,  but  a  few  died.  When  the  In- 
dians heard  of  the  epidemic,  they  were  frantic; 
they  rushed  for  their  children  and  took  them 
home,  for  they  found  fault  that  they  were  not 
treated  as  Indian  children  ought  to  be  treated. 
"You  know  nothing  about  Indians,"  they  would 
say.  Thus  the  parents  took  their  children  and 
brought  them  into  the  Neosho  to  cool  their  fever 
and  wash  off  the  sickness,  and,  as  could  be  ex- 
pected, almost  all  died.  ;  ^         .      •' 

Children  dying  so  fast  in  the,  camps  of  the  In- 
dians moved  the  heart  of  Father  Bax  to  follow 
and  baptise  them.    He  went,  traveled,  constantly, 


148  WESTliRN   INDIAN   MISSION. 

lived  in  all  the  dirt  of  the  Indian  wigwam  and 
was  satisfied  with  their  fare,  poor  and  dirty  as  it 
was.  Thus  he  baptised  many  before  they  gave 
up  .their  lives.  But  this  very  thing  caused  the 
bitterest  rage  of  the  medicine  men. 

The  medicine-men  were  and  are  still  a  set  of 
crafty  men,  who,  mixing  sorcery  with  cunning, 
act  as  doctors,  and  sometimes  perform  wonderful 
tricks.  This  is  the  way  they  make  a  living.  These 
men  fearful  of  the  presence  of  Father  Bax,  and 
seeing  the  number  of  their  dupes  diminishing, 
went  about  slandering  him,  accusing  him  of  kill- 
ing children  by  baptism.  As  in  all  times  of  ex- 
citement, the  foolish  accusation  is  believed.  Fath- 
er Bax  is  refused  admittance,  he  is  abused,  he  is 
called  a  murderer  of  children,  and  even  illtreated. 
It  was  expected  that  the  Mission  would  be  de- 
stroyed. 

The  crisis,  however,  took  place  when  adults  be- 
gan to  be  attacked  with  the  epidemic.  Not  only 
the  measles,  but  also  the  scurvy  was  making 
frightful  ravages.  Its  malignity  was  unprece- 
dented. Over  eight  hundred  Osages  died  during 
the  spring.  Many  having  died  who  were  not 
baptised,  the  survivors  noticed  the  circumstances, 
and  soon  they  returned,  begging  forgiveness  for 
saying  that  baptism  had  killed  them,  since  so 
many  died  who  were  not  baptised,  and  they  were 
the  first  to  laugh  at  their  own  terror. 

In  consequence  of  the  incessant  visits  of  Fath- 
er Bax  among  the  Osages,  attending  the  sick  and 
the  dying*  of  the  rough  life  he  led,  of  the  dirt  he 
had  to  encounter,  he  contracted  the  sickness  that 
v.'as  decimating  them,  the  scurvy.  In  May  of 
that  terrible  spring,  he  gave  evident  signs  of  the 
disease.  He,  however,  continued  his  missionary 
excursions  until  he  could  go  no  more.  Then,  and 
then  only,  he  gave  up,  was  brought  to  Fort  Scott, 


WliSTKKiS    INDIAN    MiSSiUN.  I49 

aiid  was  attended  most  carefully  by  the  liberal 
commanding  officer  and  the  doctor.  But  it  was 
too  late ;  the  disease  had  made  frightful  progress, 
and  on  the  last  day  of  July  he  gave  up  his  soul 
to  God,  after  having  received  the  last  rites  of 
the  church  at  the  hands  of  Bishop  Miege,  who 
had  reached  Fort  Scott  the  day  before. 

Father  Bax  was  thirty-five  years  old  when 
death  put  an  end  to  his  apostolic  labors.  He  had 
an  ardent  Zeal»  a  particular  gift  of  speech,  and 
the  whole  crowned  with  the  most  exalted  virtues 
and  an  unalterable  gentleness  of  manner.  His 
delight  was  to  instruct  children.  From  his  con- 
stant intercourse  with  the  Osages,  he  had  acquir- 
ed' a  great  knowledge  of  their  language,  and 
great  hopes  were  placed  on  him  for  the  future  of 
the  nation.  Being  so  amiable  and  unpretending, 
he  had  the  confidence  of  the  Indians  and  the 
whites.  His  charity  was  boundless,  and  was  the 
cause  of  his  death. 

Father  i^ax  had  desired  to  be  buried  among 
his  dear  Osages.  Hence  he  was  brought  to  the 
Mission,  and  the  rites  of  the  Catholic  church 
were  sung  over  his  remains.  Father  Schoen- 
makers  addressed  the  people,  and  feelingly  told 
of  the  shining  virtues  of  the  dear  deceased.  The 
congregation  gave  signs  of  the  deepest  sorrow. 

The  Indians,  on  their  way  back  from  a  partial 
hunt,  heard  of  the  death  of  Father  Bax.  They 
made  haste  and  arrived  in  time.  They  begged 
the  Fathers  to  have  the  bier  opened.  To  please 
them,  it  was  done.  But  no  sooner  had  they  view- 
ed their  Father  and  friend,  dressed  in  his  priestly 
robes,  resembling  more  a  person  in  sleep,  than  in 
death,  than  they  raised  a  loud  cry»  and  forgetting 
th.at  they  were  in  church,  began  their  mourning 
song,  as  they  have  it  at  the  loss  of  a  dear  friend. 
Their   excitement   was    so   great   that    for   two 


I50  WESTERN   IKDIAN    MISSION. 

hQW^^0m^  walk<5d  arg[iinc).tl;ie  bi^r  striking  their 
breasts,  arJrl  singing  the  terrible  mourning  song. 
Qjily  then  did  the>f  give, up;  the  coffin  was  closed, 
and  all  i n  j th ©  vP^ocgss jt^^ ,  ca.i'r ied .  him;  tg^ ,  his  resJl;-_^ 

ing  pla:Ce.-;:K|    -.rl";    hj/iy--y:    :^r:r,:,:'    ■    ..■.       ■■,,'    :.: 

u.Xhe.:?9th  of  October,  i§52,  Father  Adrian 
Van  Hulst  went,  from  St.  Louis  to  fill  the  place 
oiFather  Ba>s, ^  His  help  was  much  needed.  The 
goyemment  had  allowed  the  Quapaws  to  send 
their  children  to  the  Osage  manual  school,  so 
that  the.  number  of  pupils  had  nearly  doubled. 
Besides,  the  Indians  of  the  six  nations,  generally 
called  New  York  Indians,  had. just  settled  on  a 
small  stream  called  Little  Osap-e,  near  Fort  Scott, 
and  it  became  necessary  to  visit  them »  as  many, 
among  them  were  Catholics.  .  ^ 

Father  \^an  Hulst  went  on  his  apostolic  dutieS; 
with  great  zeal.  The  Quapaws,  the  vSenecas,  the 
Chernkees,  the  Creeks  and  the  v^eminoles  receiv- 
ed his  frecjuent  visits.  He  extended  them  as 
far  as  Fort  Gibson  at  the  junction  nf  the  Neosho 
with  the  Arkansas  river.  The  fruits  derived 
from  these  visits  were  immense.  But.  alas!  the 
hardships  he  experienced  in  traveling  thru  these 
boundless  deserts  so  impaired  his. health  that  his 
superiors  had  to  recall  him. to  rest  for  a.  while. 
He  left  for  St.  Louis  on  the  T4th  dav  of  October, 
t8^;4,  havinsf  spent  two  years  at  the  Mission. 

The  half-breeds  gave  the  Fathers  much  conso- 
lation, but  for  the  Osa^e  Indians  it  was  difficult 
to  do  any  eoo<l  amons:  them.  They  were  glad  to 
hear  the  Word  of  God.  and  could  well  take  a 
rebuke,  frequently  acknowlerlging  that  they  de- 
served it;  but  when  it  was  a  question  .of  Chris- 
tianitv'.. in  practice,  of  civihzation.  thev  covered 
their  :heads^  with  their  blankets,  kept  silence,  and 
as  soon  • -as :  politeness  could  allow,  thev  would 
leave.     It  was  not  that  thev  did  not  understand 


Wj;STJeRN   INDIAN   IVflSSlON,  15I 

the  importance  of  Christianity.  When  sick,  they 
all  desired  to  be  baptised;  but  for  the  sake  of, 
truth,  we  must. say  that  many  on  recovering,, 
returned  to  pagan  worship.  Human  respect  and 
interest  did  that  great  evil.  The  following  will 
illustrate  this  matter:  A  brave  of  the  Beaver 
band  of  Osages  had  a  nephew  at  school.  The 
young  boy  was  gifted,  and  had  been  baptised  and 
received  communion.  His  uncle  went  to  the  Mis- 
sion, and  said  he  should  take  his  nephew  home. 
Father  Schoenmakers  objected,  because  it  was 
the  epoch  of  the  foolish  worship  of  the  Osages. 
But  he  would  have  his  nephew  and  take  him  to 
the  worship.  The  Father  argued  with  him  and 
proved  to  him  that  he  was  wrong.  The  old  brave 
listened  in  silence,  and  acknowledged  that  it  was 
interest  that  made  him  ask  the  like;  that  he  did 
not  care  for  Indian  worship ;  that  but  few  believ- 
ed in  it;  but  that  if  he  took  his  nephew  there  he 
would  gti  a  large  share  of  buffalo  on  account  of 
the  boy's  father  having  been  a  great  brave,  who 
died  in  a  war  with  the  Comanches,  and  as  he  was 
a  poor  man  he  would  have  his  own  and  his 
nephew's  share  for  the  winter. 

Ehiring  that  year,  lands  in  the  newly  formed 
Territory  of  Kansas  began  to  be  opened  for  set- 
tlement and  many  families  settled  about  the  Mis- 
sion, on  account  of  the  advantages  of  the  school. 
Thus  the  congregation  was  much  increased. 

Father  Ponziglione,  this  same  year,  from  the 
Miamis,  went  to  visit  the  Chippewas  and  Otta- 
was.  living  near  the  mouth  of  Ottawa  Creek,  near 
the  Osage  River.  Most  of  these  Indians  were 
Catholics;  but  not  having  been  visited  for  years, 
he  had  hard  work  baptising  and  instructing  them. 
This  mission  sfave  him  much  consolation.   -  >  . 

In  Septemb<sr,  1855,  Right  Reverend  Bishop 
Miege  took  to  himself  Father  Heimann,  who  had 


152  WESTERN    INDIAN    MISSION. 

now  been  for  six  years  at  the  Mission.  During 
this  time  he  had  so  well  organized  the  schools 
that  the  children  were  the  delight  of  all  who  saw 
them.  Their  modesty  and  good  behavior,  along 
with  their  progress  were  remarkable.  Twice  a 
year  they  gave  public  exhibitions,  that  were  at- 
tended by  all  Indians  and  whites.  The  Mission 
lost  a  great  help  by  the  removal  of  Father  Hei- 
mann,  who,  besides  his  noble  school'  had  attend- 
ed the  Germans  of  Deep- Water. 

In  the  summer  of  1857,  a  brother  priest  was 
sent  from  St.  Louis  to  work  among  the  Osages. 
This  was  Father  Van  Lengenhage,  commonly 
called  Father  Logan.  This  good  man  was  strong 
and  full  of  zeal.  He  set  to  work  at  once.  But 
alas!  his  conversations  with  the  Indians  termin- 
ated as  did  all  such  conversations,  by  utter  sil- 
ence, and  retiring  as  soon  as  possible.  Evidently 
they  were  not  for  Christianity  and  civilization, 
and  altho  they  did  not  believe  in  Manitou  wor- 
ship, yet  it  paid  them  better,  and  they  clung  to  it. 
At  this  time,  these  same  Indians  had.  besides, 
been  imbued  by  careless  white  trappers  v/ith  all 
the  false  ideas  of  scepticism  and  infidelity. 

Three  settlements  of  Catholic  families  were 
formed  on  Pottawatomie  Creek,  Fall  River  and 
the  Verdigris.  These  were  visited  regularly  to 
the  great  delight  of  those  poor  people.  They 
had  thus  an  occasion  of  performing  their  Chris- 
tian duties.  These  settlements  were  over  sev- 
enty-five miles  from  the  Osage  Mission. 

Father  Logan  worked  faithfully  among  the 
OsageS'  and  thru  his  exertions  several  were  con- 
^^rted  and  baptised.  But  soon,  altho  not  a  word 
of  complaint  passed  his  lips,  it  was  evident  that 
he  suffered,  and  the  kind  Father  Schoenmakers 
resolved  to  bring  him  back  to  St.  Louis.  He  had 
hardly  reached  there  when  a  severe  brain  fevet 


WE:STKRN   INDIAN    MISSION.  1 53 

set  in,  and  he  expired  on  the  4th  of  July,  1858, 
being  thirty-two  years  of  age,  and  passed  from 
this  life  into  the  light  of  heaven.  The  25th  of 
August  he  was  replaced  at  the  Mission  by  Father 
James  V^an  Gooch. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year,  Bishop  Miege  visited 
the  settlement  on  the  Pottawatomie,  and  gave 
these  good  people,  who  were  overjoyed,  Father 
Ivo  Schact  for  pastor.  To  relieve  the  Osage  Mis- 
sion, he  was  also  to  attend  the  Miamis,  Peorias, 
Weas.  Piangishas,  Ottawas  and  Chippewas. 
When  Father  Schact,  a  year  after,  was  removed 
to  Lawrence,  he  kept  such  missions,  because  they 
were  French-speaking  Ind''ans,  which  language 
he  spoke;  and  they  were  left  as  a  legacy  to  his 
successor,  Father  Favre,  now  Professor  of 
Theology  at  the  Seminary  of  the  Assumption, 
who  also  speaks  French,  and  did  much  good 
among  them. 

I  pass  rapidly  over  the  years  that  followed.  A 
new  church  was  built :  the  exercises  of  a  jubilee 
brought  many  to  church ;  many  were  baptised, 
and  the  work  progressed  as  usual.  I  will  say 
nothing  of  the  measles,  which  attacked  again  the 
children  of  the  school  nor  the  prejudice  that  fol- 
lowed it — prejudice  so  foolish  and  yet  so  strong 
that  Father  A^an  Gooch  having  visited  a  village 
of  the  Little  Osages,  the  chief  of  the  tribe  ac- 
cused him  of  killing  children  by  baptism;  and 
night  coming  on.  he  was  refused  lodging  and 
obliged  to  pass  the  night  upon  the  naked  prairie, 
cold  and  famished  after  a  whole  day's  ride,  ana 
that  for  fear  he  would  perform  some  great  spell 
against  them.  I  say  nothing  of  the  increasing 
goodness  of  the  half-breeds,  nor  the  show  of  a 
desire  of  civilization  among  the  wild  Indians, 
who  brought  to  school  as  many  as  two  hundred 
and  thirty-five  children  and  occasioned  thus  the 


Y54  WEbTEfi^N  'kkDIAN   MISSIOiir. 

,0'icpensc'of  hew'feuildiii'gs.  ;!■  ^ay  fetit  a' Wbi'd  of 
;thepius  death  of  ' ^ratariia.iitze,  siiccessof  of 
AViiite  Hair,  as  great  chief  of  the  Osages.  This 
old  man  had  been  baptised  by  Kather  Van  Quick- 
enborne  years  before.  Taken  away  soon  after, 
while  a  small  boy,  he  joined  in  all  the  follies  of 
Mahitou  worship,  but  as  soon  as  he  succeeded 
White  Hair  he  became  a  fervent  Christian.  The 
chief  of  the  QuapawsT—Wartishi  by  name- 
was  baptised  the  same  year  under  the  name  of 
Joseph.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  in  that  year 
Father  Schoenmakers,  desirous  of  seeing  the  In- 
dians at  work,  offered  them  regular  wages  if 
they  would  go  to  the  woods  and  split  rails  to 
build  fences  for  themselves.  The  Father  and  his 
men  went,  and  with  the  rails  fenced  plots  of 
ground  around  the  wigwams,  which  they  plowed 
and  planted,  while  the  Indians  were  sitting  in 
the  shade  smoking.  When  the  corn  grew,  they 
ate  the  green  ears,  and  all  was  over. 
V  But  let  us  pass  frorn  these  tribes  to  the  hard 
times  experienced  by  the  Mission  during  the  late 
W>ar.  When,  on  the  12th  of  April,  186 1,  the  first 
gun  was  shot  at  Fort  Sumpter,  it  reached  all) 
over  the  land,  and  the  forest  Indians  themselves 
felt.it.  Placed  so  near  the  border,  the  Osage 
Missipii  suffered  much  from  incursions  of  the 
jrrtilitary.  The  fact  is/ that  some  demanded  all 
-because  they. were  enemies,  and  the  others  cle- 
fiianded; all  because  they  were  friends.  Stead- 
fast in  his  duty  toward  the  Union,  father  Schpen- 
J^akers  was  in  particiilar  the  object  of  the 
hat r^ed  o f  all  the  troops  of  guerillas,  which  pass- 
€'4  %.''  Five  .hundred  dollars  reward,  was  pfifered 
foVliish^ad;  Hence  he  left  the  Mission,  and  re- 
tired for  some  hionths  to  St.  Arary's. '  The  storm 
over,  he  .returned  Tiome.  During  his  absence, 
Father    Ponziglione    was    throttled    to   give    up 


WESTERN   INDIAN    MISSION.  155 

"thfe -arms  that  wfere  said  to  be  concealed  at  the 
JViission.  After  a  brutal  search,  liiiding  none, 
they  abused  Father  Hoecken,  whom  they  met.  A 
dastardly  attempt  was  made  upon  the  Ute  of 
Father  Van  Gooch.  On  his  return  from  Fort 
Scott,  where  he  had  been  attaiding  the  numerous 
soldiers  professing  the  Catholic  faith,  he  fell  into 
the  hands  of  a  band  of  robbeis  dressed  in  mili- 
tary. They  ordered  him  from  his  horse,  made 
him  kneel  down,  their  guns  leveled — ^the  word 
only  was  wanting.  But  the  leader,  more  human 
than  those  hends,  said  there  was  no  glory  in  kill- 
ing a  man  without  arms  and  making  no  resist- 
ance.- He  promised  to  attend  to  him  in  due  time, 
and  had  him  conveyed  to  the  house  of  a  friend, 
whence  he  reached  the  Mission  in  safety. 

Some  speculators,  desiring  to  enrich  them- 
selves, came  among  the  Osages  and  raised  re- 
cruits among  them.  But  an  hidian  remains  an 
Indian,  altho  dressed  in  soldier's  clothes.  They 
all  left  the  ranks  and  returned  home,  where  they 
sold  their  clothes  for  a  dram  of  whiskey,  and 
went  buffalo  hunting.  They  drank  freely,  and 
Father  Ponziglione,  not  knowing  this,  arrived  at 
the  Osage  town  of  Nantze-Waspe.  There  he  was 
isurrounded.  complaints  were  made  against  the 
officers  v,'ho  enrolled  them  and  paid  them  not; 
thence  against  all  the  white  men ;  knives  w^ere 
branished  aroitiid  the  Father,  and  poised  to  stab 
him.  Just  then  a  cry  of  terror  was  heard; -Union 
troops  were  near,  and  he  was  saved.  ■  .''''■''?." 
.>;''  Several  tribes  of  Indian-s  flying  f rbm  th^  Sbtith 
iaine  up  ariiong  the  Osages.  These  more  or  less 
demoralized  the  Osag-es,  as  well'  as ;  chose  ifhp 
'had 'been  in  the^army;  lri>'¥a1n  \tei-e  th^y^^i- 
str.ucted,  invited  to  be  cit^lized "  and  cared  f 6'rl;- It 
was  useless.  "Father."  they  would  say,  ''j'Oti 
promised  us  ver}'  great  things  in  the  liame  of 


156  WESTERN   INDIAN    MISSION. 

your  Great  Spirit  iti  another  knd.  We  are  poor 
now ;  why  does  He  not  give  them  here  now?  We 
are  bound  to  work  for  you  or  starve."  Thus 
they  reasoned ;  for  heavenly  things  they  had  no 
rehsh ;  sugar,  tea  and  coffee  were  better  to  them. 

As  soon  as  the  spring  opened  they  rushed  to 
their  forests,  and  while  the  Easter  offices  were 
performed  at  the  ^rission..  you  might  have  heard, 
one  mile  further  in  the  woods,  the  mournful  song 
of  the  Tarki-un,  their  worship  song,  accompanied 
by  the  drum,  and  if  penetrating  nearer  you 
should  be  able  to  see  them  you  would  find  them 
in  their  forest  recess  sacrificing  their  bird  to  the 
Great  Spirit^  and  like  the  ancient  augurers  con- 
sulting the  palpitations  and  convulsions  of  the 
dissected  animal  to  foretell  their  success  in  war 
or  the  hunt. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  dangers  increased ;  both 
the  white  settlers  and  the  Indians  abandoned 
the  country  and  the  Mission  was  deserted;  the 
schools  were  very  full,  but  no  protector  was  near. 
The  only  breastwork  was  the  innocence  of  the 
little  children.  The  fact  is  that  several  guerilla 
troops  went  there  to  pillage  and  burn,  and  yet 
were  restrained  from  it  by  the  innocence  of  the 
little  ones,  who,  having  no  knowledge  of  friend 
or  foe  were  equally  kind  to  all. 

One  band,  hov/evei,  took  ?J1  the  provisions, 
all  the  clothing  to  be  found  in  both  houses,  even 
that  of  the  children*  and  retired  without  more 
injury.  This  caused  Father  Schoenmakers  to  ap- 
ply to  Generals  Charles  Blair  and  Thomas  Ewing 
for  troops,  which  request  was  readily  granted, 
and  a  company  of  soldiers  was  stationed  at  the 
Mission,  thus  checking  the  constant  inroads  of 
robbers,  and  giving  security  to  teachers  and  pu- 
pils. 

The  Mission  was  in  great  danger  when  a  large 


WESTERN   INDIAN    MISSION.  1^7 

train  escorted  by  soldiers  left  the  place  for  Fort 
Smith,  but  was  captured  by  the  Confederates 
near  Cabin  Creek,  sixty-five  miles  south.  Gen- 
eral Price  and  his  army  became  formidable ;  but 
fortunately,  before  reaching  Baxter  Springs,  the 
old  general  cast  his  soldiers  into  the  State  of 
Missouri.  All  the  soldiers  scattered  about,  and 
indeed  all  available  men  were  mustered  into 
service  to  defend  our  State  from  invasion.  Soon 
after  the  assasination  of  x\braham  Lincoln  peace 
was  proclaimed,  confidence  was  restored,  and 
the  settlers  returned  to  their  homes. 

As  is  always  the  case  after  such  wars,  suspi- 
cious characters  remain  for  the  spoils,  and  steal 
now  in  the  dark,  since  they  cannot  rob  publicly 
as  before.  Thus  in  one  night  all  the  horses  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  stock  of  the  Mission 
were  removed*  and  no  tidings  were  ever  had  of 
their  whereabouts.  The  mission  lost  consider- 
ably during  this  unhappy  war,  without  the  hope 
of  ever  receiving  one  cent  back. 

In  the  year  1865,  Father  Hoecken  was  remov- 
ed from  the  Mission,  and  Father  John  Cunning- 
ham sent  to  reside  at  Fort  Scott,  where  Father 
Ponziglione  had  finished  a  good  church  and  form- 
ed a  congregation. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  the  United  States 
Government  sent  its  agents  to  a  great  council 
with  the  Osages.  All  the  chiefs  and  braves  met 
on  the  In-sca-po-oushii  Creek,  and  the  white  men 
met  on  Canville's  Creek.  Father  Schoenmakers 
was  officially  invited  to  attend,  and  taking  the 
stand,  he  explained  to  the  Indians  the  advantage 
resulting  for  them  from  a  treaty  with  the  United 
States.  This  treaty  was  signed  by  both  parties 
on  the  spot. 

As  soon  as  the  land  was  open  for  settlement 
a  rush  was  made,  and  the  work  increased  consid- 


158  WESTE^RN  INDIAN   MISSION. 

erably.  A  church  was  built  and  congregation 
formed  ct  Humboldt.  But  great  confusion  fol- 
lowed the  taking  of  claims  by  men  who  had  no 
right  to  such.  Quarrels  followed  among  the  set- 
tlers, but  all  were  happily  adjusted,  and  the 
church  could  not  contain  all  the  Catholics.  An- 
other missionary  was  sent  to  help  in  the  good 
and  difficult  work.  This  was  Father  John 
Schoensetters.  The  distant  missions  were  again 
visited  to  the  great  joy  of  the  Catholic  population. 

Father  Schoensetters  attended  the  white  popu- 
lation of  Carthage,  Granby,  Newtonia  and  Neo- 
sho, in  Missouri,  and  the  new  settlements  on  the 
Quapaw,  Seneca  and  Cherokee  lands,  also  Cow 
Creek,  Spring  River  and  Neosho,  in  Kansas,  and 
Baxter  Springs. 

The  Osages,  six  months  after  the  treaty,  hav- 
ing moved  to  their  new  reservation.  Father 
Schoenmakers  followed  them,  in  order  to  in- 
struct them.  Starting  from  the  Mission,  he  fol- 
lowed the  Osage  trail,  and  reached  first  the 
bands  of  Clermont  and  Black  Dog,  on  Pumpkin 
Creek,  in  the  Verdigris  Valley,  thence  to  Big  Hill, 
a  large  Osage  town  of  one  hundred  lodges.  Leav- 
ing Big  Hill,  he  came  into  the  camps  of  Beaver, 
White  Hair,  Nantze-Waspe  and  LHtle  Osage,  at 
the  junction  of  Fall  River  and  the  Verdigris. 

During  these  last  years,  the  Catholic  popula- 
tion of  the  Osage  Mission  increased  so  much 
that  a  large  church  is  in  wa}^  of  construction;  a 
corKvent  has  been  built  for  the  Sisters  of  Loretta 
and  a  residence  will  soon  be  built  for  the  Fath- 
ers. A  large  circulating  library  has  been  es- 
tablished by  Father  Colleton,  who  succeeded 
Father  Schoensetters.  So  that  everything  goes 
prosperously. 

Many  churches  have  been  bnilt  and  congrega- 
tions established  in  the  neighborhood,  and  con- 


WESTERN   INDIAN   MISSION.  1 59 

stantly  some  of  the  Fathers  are  on  missionary 
tours. 

The  Jesuit  Fathers  of  the  Osage  Mission  have 
been  the  pioneers  of  Kansas.  They  have,  accord- 
irjjg  to  the  text  of  the  Scriptures,  sown  the  seed 
of  the  Word  of  God  into  those  wild  countries; 
others  will  come  who  will  in  joy  reap  the  harvest 
Perhaps  lofty  cathedrals  will  be  raised  where  the 
poor  pioneer  priest  has  rejoiced  in  raising  a 
small  cross.  All  ihe  good  performed  will  be 
known  at  the  day  of  reckoning,  when  all  nations 
will  stand  before  the  throne  of  God  and  be  judg- 
ed according  to  their  works. 

James  H.  De^ouri. 


CHAPTER  X. 

FATHER  DE   LA  CROIX. 

Father  Charles  De  La  Croix  was  the  first  mis- 
sionary among  the  Osages  in  what  is  now  Kan- 
sas, of  which  We  have  found  any  record,  and  not 
much  is  known  of  his  work,  aside  from  what  has 
already  been  said  in  this  book. 

Father  De  La  Croix  was  born  at  Hoorbeke,  St. 
Corneille.  Belgium,  October  28,  1792,  and  was 
educated  at  the  seminary  at  Ghent.  When  Na- 
poleon I,  by  aid  of  his  military  power,  appointed 
a  bishop  contrary  to  the  wish  of  the  people  of 
the  Diocese,  the  students  at  Ghent  resisted,  and 
as  a  punishment  young  De  La  Croix  and  his 
brother  were  imprisoned  in  the  fortress  at  Wes- 
sel,  where  his  brother  died.  After  the  fall  of  the 
empire  he  resumed  his  studies  and  was  ordained 
at  Ghent  by  Bishop  Dubourg,  of  St.  Louis,  and 
sailed  for  America  with  the  bishop.  In  May, 
181 8,  he  was  put  in  charge  of  the  missionary 
work  at  Barrens,  Perry  count),  Mo.,  and  at  the 
same  time  was  assigned  the  duties  of  superin- 
tending the  construction  of  a  seminary  building 
for  the  diocese  of  Louisiana.  On  December  3, 
181 8,  he  went  to  Florissant'  also  called  St  P'erd- 
inand,  near  St.  Louis.  He  continued  his  labors 
there  until  about  August,  :823. 

It  was  while  located  at  Florissant  that  Father 
De  La  Croix  made  his  trips  to  the  Osages  on 
the  Neosho.  He  is  known  to  have  visited  the 
Osages  in  1820  and  the  records  of  St.  Francis' 
church  show  he  baptised  twelve  Osages  on  this 

(160) 


FATHER   De    LA    CROIX. 


i6i 


occasion,  but  the  location  is  not  stated  and  pos- 
sibly may  have  been  at  Harmony,  which  was  just 
across  the  line  in  Missouri.  The  church  rec- 
ords show  more  baptisms  of  Osages  by  him  m 
1822.  These  were  most  likely  performed  some- 
where near  where  St.  Paul,  Kansas,  is  now  lo- 
cated, and  Jinircas  History  of  Kansas  says  these 
were  tlie  first  baptisms  on  record  performed  m 
Kansas  territory.  Father  Paul,  in  one  of  his  let- 
ters, savs  Father  De  La  Croix  was  preparmg  to 
build  a'  chapel  among  the  Osages  when  he  was 
taken  away  by  death.  In  this  Father  Paul  ap- 
pears to  havebeen  mistaken,  for  he  lived  nearly 
fifty  years  after  his  last  visit  to  Kansas  and  made 
a  remarkable  record.  T-i     t 

Between  his  trips  to  Kansas  Father  De  l^a 
Croix  laid  the  corner  stone  for  a  new  church  at 
Florissant  on  February  19,  1821.  This  church 
was  completed  thru  his  efforts  in  1823.  On 
August  31.  1823.  he  helped  Father  Van  Quicken- 
borne  break  ground  for  the  foundation  for  the 
first  building  to  be  erected  by  the  Jesuits  at  that 
place,  and  a  few  days  later  he  turned  the  new 
church  over  to  the  care  of  Father  Van  Quicken- 
borne  and  departed  for  Louisiana. 

On  August  21.  1818,  he  established  the  con- 
vent of  the  Sacred  Heart  at  Florissant,  Mo., 
over  which  Mother  PhUippine  Duchesne  ruled 
for  several  years  before  she  came  to  Kansas  and 
established  a  school  among  the  Pottawatomies  on 
Sugar  Creek  in  1841.  This  convent  later  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  Sisters  of  Loretto  who 
still  maintain  an  academy  there. 

Father  De  La  Croix  is  classed  as  a  most  zeal- 
ous worker  both  in  local  and  missionary  fields. 
He  prepared  the  wav  for  Father  Van  Qutcken- 
borne  and  the  other  Jesuit  missionaries  who 
came  to  Florissant  in   1823.     He  had  built  and 


l62  FATHER   DE   LA    CROIX. 

paid  for  a  brick  church,  had  started  a  farm  and 
opened  the  missionary  field  for  the  Jesuits,  all 
of  which  he  turned  over  to  them  soon  after  their 
arrival.  He  then  became  pastor  of  St.  MichaeVs 
parish  in  Lower  Louisiana  until  1829,  when  he 
went  to  Belgium  to  recuperate  his  health.  While 
there  he  collected  funds  sufficient  to  build  a  new 
church  in  his  old  parish  in  Louisiana,  and  re- 
turning! to  America  he  completed  the  church 
in  1832.  In  1833  ^^  went  back  to  Belgium  and 
became  canon  of  the  Cathedral  of  Ghent,  which 
position  he  held  until  his  death  on  August  20, 


CHAPTER  XL 

FATHER  VAN  QUICKENBORNE. 

"Dwells  in  his  little  village,  the  Black  Robe  chief 

of  the  Mission, 
Much  he  teaches  the  people,  and  tells  them  of 

Mary  and  Jesus; 
Loud  laugh  their  hearts  with  joy,  and  weep  zuith 

pain,  as  they  hear  him." — Longfellow. 

Rev.  Charles  Van  Quickenborne,  S.  J.,  was 
the  second  missionary  among  the  Osages  in  the 
west.  He  was  the  successor  of  Father  De  La 
Croix  and  a  most  zealous  worker.  His  labor 
among  the  Osages  while  they  remained  near  St. 
Louis  are  told  in  another  chapter.  His  first  trip 
west  was  in  1827,  when  he  visited  the  Osages  on 
the  Neosho,  \^erdigris  and  Marmaton  rivers. 
Many  of  the  Osages  had  become  acquainted  with 
him  in  eastern  Missouri  before  they  came  west 
and  they  gave  him  a  hearty  welcome.  He  made 
other  trips  to  the  Osages  in  the  west  in  1829, 
1830  and  1834,  baptising  many  on  each  trip. 

On  the  records  of  St.  Francis'  church,  St. 
Paul,  Kansas,  appears  the  following,  with  a  certi- 
ficate that  it  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  original 
report  made  by  Father  Van  Quickenborne : 

**The  publication  having  been  dispensed  with,  I 
have  received  the  mutual  consent  of  and  given 
the  nuptial  blessing  according  to  the  rites  of  our 
holy  mother,  the  Catholic  church,  to  the  follow- 
ing couples : 

(163) 


164  I^ATHER   VAN  QUICKENBORNE. 

*'i.  Francis  D,  Aybean  alias  Brugiere,  a 
Frenchman,  and  Mary,  an  Osage  woman. 

"2.  Joseph  Brown  alias  Egtiesne,  a  Frenchman 
son  of  Stephen  Brown  and  Acile  Giguiere,  and 
Josette  A.  Aybean,  daughter  of  Francis  A.  Ay- 
bean,  a  Metif  girl  of  the  Osage  Nation. 

"3.  Basile  Vesseur,  son  of  Basile  who  was  a 
half-breed  of  the  Osage  Nation,  and  Mary,  an 
Osage  woman,  daughter  of  Kansa  Shinza. 

''The  witnesses  have  been  Christopher  Sanguin- 
ess  and  Lonis  Peltier. 

"Done  at  the  house  of  Francis  D.  Aybean,  near 
the  bank  of  the  Marmaton  river  in  1830. 

*'Chs.  F.  Van  Qutckknborne.  S.  J." 

All  Kansas  histories  consulted  by  the  writer 
state  the  above  marriages  were  performed  on 
the  Neosho  in  1828  and  that  Father  Van  Ouick- 
enborne  died  in  1828.  Indeed  Father  Ponzigli- 
one,  in  one  of  his  letters,  gives  1828  as  the  year 
of  his  death.  Tt  is  apparent  that  all  these  are  in 
error. 

The  charter  of  the  St.  Louis  University  was 
issued  on  December  28,  1832,  to  Father  Van 
Quickenborne  and  four  others.  In  a  history  of 
that  institution,  the  following  appears:  ''Dur- 
ing this  year.  1827,  Father  Van  Quickenborne 
went  on  his  first  missionary  excursion  to  the 
Osage  tribe  of  Indians  beyond  the  borders  ot 
Missouri,  and  at  an  estimated  distance  of  five 
hundred  miles  from  Florissant.  He  subsequent- 
ly paid  two  other  visits  to  this  tribe — one  in 
T829  and  the  other  in  1830 — with  a  view  of  start- 
mg  schools  and  a  missions rv  residence  amone 
them."  •  ^ 

This  refutes  the  statement  of  Kansas  histori- 
ans that  Father  Van  Quickenborne  was  in  Kan- 
sas in  1828,  or  that  he  died  during  that  year. 
Tt  likewise  shows  that  he  must  have,  on  his  first 


FATHER  VAN   QUICK^NBORNE.  165 

trip,  visited  those  members  of  the  tribe  farther- 
est  west  as  well  as  those  on  the  Neosho,  if  he 
went  as  far  as  five  hundred  miles  west  from 
Florissant. 

Father  DeSmet,  in  a  letter  written  in  1857, 
tells  of  Father  Van  Ouickenborne  building  a 
house  and  chapel  in  1836  among  the  Kickapoos. 

The  history  of  the  St.  Louis  University  also 
contains  the  following:  "Rev.  Charles  Van 
Quickenborne,  to  whom  above  all  others,  is  due 
tile  credit  of  establishing  the  Jesuit  missions  in 
Missouri,  returned  in  1837  from  the  Kickapoo 
mission  started  by  him  the  preceding  year,  near 
the  grounds  of  the  present  Ft.  Leavenworth,  and 
he  went  to  recuperate  his  strength  at  Portage 
des  Sioux.  But  the  hardships  of  several  years 
spent  by  him  in  border-life  among  the  Indians 
had  so  shattered  his  constitution  that  no  medi- 
cine and  no  kind  attention  could  revive  him,  and 
he  died  at  Portage  des  Sioux  on  Thursday,  Aug- 
ust 17,  1837.  His  remains  were  interred  on  a 
little  mound  in  the  garden  at  St.  Stanislaus  no- 
vitiate, and  they  are  now  surrounded  by  those 
of  nearly  all  his  early  companions  in  Missouri. 
A  plain  slab  for  a  headstone,  with  a  Latin  in- 
scription on  it,  serves  both  to  mark  his  last  rest- 
ing place  and  to  record  the  main  events  of  his 
very  com.mendable  life." 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  Father 
V^an  Quickenborne  did  not  die  in  1828,  but  nine 
years  later. 

The  history  of  Kansas  also  says  the  marriage 
ceremony  recorded  b}'  Father  Van  Quicken- 
borne was  the  first  performed  in  what  is  now 
the  state  of  Kansas,  and  that  it  was  performed 
on  the  Neosho  near  where  the  Mission  was  later 
established.  From  Father  \'an  Quickenbome's 
own  record  and  other  evidences  the  writer  con- 


i66  rATxif;R  van  quick^nbornk. 

dudes  it  was  performed  not  far  from  where  Ft. 
vScotl  now  stands. 

It  is  quite  certain,  however,  that  Father  V^an 
Ouickenborne  paid  more  than  one  visit  to  the 
Osages  on  the  Neosho.  In  fact  one  writer  says 
he  selected  the  site  on  which  Father  Schoen- 
makers  afterward  located  "(3sage  ^Mission." 
His  last  visit  to  the  Osages  on  the  Neosho  was 
probably  in  1834. 

The  Osages  owe  a  deep  debt  oi  gratitude  to 
this  pioneer.  He  was  the  first  to  establish 
schools  among  them,  and  one  of  the  first  to 
bring  the  •'Gospel  of  Christ."  Civilization,  too, 
owes  him  much.  He  was  the  founder  of  the 
great  St.  Louis  University,  and  pointed  out  the 
way  for  the  establishment  of  the  schools  later 
established  in  Kansas  by  the  Jesuits  and  by  the 
v^isters  of  Loretto  and  of  the  vSacred  Heart. 

Father  De  Smet.  the  noted  missionary,  and 
one  of  the  six  young  Belgians  who  acconrnanipd 
Father  \^an  Onickenborne  from  Maryland  to 
Missouri,  wTote  the   follow-ing  tribute : 

New^  York,  May  16.  1857. 

This  notice  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Van  Quicken- 
borne  has  been  based  on  a  sketch  of  his  life,  in 
the  archives  of  the  vice-province  of  Mfissouri. 
and  T  have  inserted  some  facts  from  mv  own 
knowledge. 

Father  Charles  Felix  Van  Ouickenborne  was 
the  first  Jesuit  who  appeared  in  the  great  valley 
of  the  Mississippi  after  the  re-establishment  of 
the  Society  of  Jesus.  He  was  a  man  full  of 
zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  The  conversion 
of  the  Indians  was,  in  particular,  the  object  of 
his  predilection  and  of  his  prayers.  Long  will 
his  name  be  held  in  benediction,  and  his  mem- 
ory celebrated  in  the  places  which  had  the  happi- 


FATHER  VAN    gUlCKKN BORNE.  1 6/ 

ness  of  receiving  the  fruits  of  his  numerous  la- 
bors and  of  his  truly  apostolic  virtues. 

He  was  born  in  the  diocese  of  Ghent,  at  Peteg- 
hem,  near  Deynze,  on  the  21st  of  January,  1788. 
Having  commenced  his  studies  at  Deynze,  he 
went  to  Ghent  to  complete  them,  and  there  he 
embraced  the  ecclesiastical  state.  Van  Quicken- 
borne  constantly  distinguished  himself  by  his 
talents  and  his  application.  Ordained  priest,  he 
was  sent  to  Roulers,  to  teach  belles  lettres.  He 
remained  there  four  years;  that  is  to  say,  until 
the  moment  that  the  ecclesiastical  seminary  was 
closed.  A  short  time  after  his  return  to  Ghent 
he  was  sent  as  vicar  into  a  parish  where  he  had 
the  singular  happiness,  as  he  frequently  said  with 
pleasure,  of  finding  Mr.  Corselis  as  Dean.  The 
friendship  and  the  distinguished  virtue  of  this 
venerated  priest  exerted  a  very  salutary  influence 
over  the  iiiind  of  the  young  vicar»  and  made  an 
impression  which  was  never  obliterated. 

About  this  time  the  Society  of  Jesus,  in  the 
expectation  of  its  approaching  re-establishment, 
had  prepared  a  novitiate  at  Rumbeke,  neor  Roul- 
ers. There,  yielding  to  the  impulse  of  his  zeal, 
Van  Quickenbome  presented  himself,  on  the  14th 
of  April,  1815.  From  that  moment  he  sighed 
for  the  mission  of  America. 

Scarcely  had  he  finished  his  novitiate  than  he 
obtained  from  Father  Thaddeus  Brzozowski. 
then  general,  the  permission  to  consecrate  him- 
self entirely  to  the  desired  mission.  He  embark- 
ed at  Amsterdam.  After  a  navigation  fraught 
with  perils,  he  had  the  happiness  of  reaching 
America,  near  the  close  of  the  year  181 7. 

At  the  opening  of  the  year  1819  he  was  plac- 
ed at  the  head  of  the  novitiate  of  Maryland,  at 
White  Marsh  He  displayed,  in  this  responsible 
position,  all  the  means  which  it  furnished  him 


1 68  FATHKR  VAN   QUICKEN  BORNE. 

for  the  salvation  of  souls.  Superior  and  master 
of  novices,  he  became,  at  the  same  time,  farmer, 
carpenter,  and  mason.  He  erected  a  handsome 
stone  church  on  the  novitiate  grounds,  and  built 
a  brick  one  at  AnnapoHs.  At  the  same  time  he 
attended,  as  a  missionary,  a  vast  district,  which 
during  several  years,  he  was  to  evangehze  alone, 
before  a  companion  could  second  his  charitable 
toil. 

His  labors  were  precious  for  Maryland  ;  but 
the  poverty  of  that  mission  was  extreme.  This 
led  the  Rt.  Rev.  Wm.  du  Bourg,  bishop  of  botli 
Louisianas.  to  request  that  the  novitiate  to  trans- 
ferred to  Afissouri.  The  superior  of  the  mission 
consented  to  it.  Father  \'an  Quickenborne, 
therefore,  set  out  with  two  Fathers',  seven  scho- 
lastic novices,  and  three  coadjutor  brothers.  Af- 
ter a  journey  of  i,6oo  miles,  amidst  the  heat  of 
summer,  with  continual  fatigues  and  privations, 
he  arrived  near  Florissant,  where  he  commenced 
the  novitiate  of  Saint  Stanislaus  To  form  this 
new  establishment,  he  found  no  other  materials 
than  those  he  drew  himself  from  the  forests  and 
the  rocky  bed  of  the  river.  But  his  ardor  for 
labor  was  daunted  by  no  difficulty ^  his  inflexible 
courage  was  not  to  be  arrested  by  any  obstacle. 
He  was  always  the  first  at  work.  He  seemed  to 
multiply  himself,  going  from  one  workman  to 
another,  exciting  and  encouraging  ever\  one  by 
his  example  far  more  than  by  his  words.  En- 
dowed with  an  admirable  patience,  and  with  a 
great  spirit  of  mortification,  he  was  never  ex- 
acting to  any  one  but  himself,  listened  only  to 
the  enthusiasm  which  inspired  him  to  spend 
himself  without  reserve,  and  never  knew  what 
it  was  to  spare  his  own  health  or  strength.  He 
was  near  becoming  a  victim  to  this  self-forget- 
fulness.    One  day  he  was  working  at  the  squaring 


rATilER  VAN    QUICKKNBORNE.  169 

of  a  timber,  aided  in  this  labor  by  a  young  novice. 
The  latter,  not  yet  versed  in  the  work,  used  his 
axe  with  an  eagerness  of  which  he  was  far  from 
imagining  the  consequences.     Right  glad  to  per- 
ceive the  wood  yielding  under  his  blows,  he  only 
thought  of  multiplying  them.     One  of  them*  ill- 
directed,   struck  the  Father  on  the  foot.     Not- 
withstanding this  wound,  and  the  loss  of  blood, 
the   Father  did  not  give  up  liis   labor  until  he 
found  himself  fainting,  then  only  would  he  take 
a  seat  and  allow  the  cut  to  be  bound  up  with  a 
handkerchief      The   laborers,   meanwhile,    were 
three  miles  from  the  farm,  which  served  them 
as  a  common  residence.     The  Father  endeavor- 
ed to  return  there  on  foot ;  but,  on  the  way,  the 
pain  arising  from  the  wound  became  so  violent 
that  he  was  constrained  to  yield  and  suffer  him- 
self to  be  put  on  the  horse  that  had  been  sent 
for  him.     A  burning  fever  obliged  him  to  keep 
his  bed  for  several  days.     As  soon  as  he  became 
a  little  better  he  desired  to  return  to  his  work, 
but  he  must  use  the  horse.     Thence  arose  a  new 
accident.     The  shores  of  the  river  are  swampy 
in   certain   places ;   the   horse   sunk   into   one   of 
these  mires ;  the  Father  needed  all  his  calm  and 
coolness  to  regain  the  solid  ground ;  but  all  the 
eflforts  that  he  made  to  extricate  the  poor  animal 
proved  useless ;  he  was  obliged  to  see  him  per- 
ish.   These  accidents,  instead  of  shaking  his  con- 
stancy,  had  the   effect   of   rendering  him  more 
firmly  determined  to  accomplish  his  purpose.    It 
was  surrounded  by  difficulties,  which  would  have 
appeared  insurmountable  to  a  couraofe  less  heroic, 
that  he  constructed  the  novitiate  of  Florissant, 
aided  by  his  Belgian  novices.     In  1828  he  un- 
dertook the  construction  of  a  university  at  St. 
Louis.     He  also  built,  at  St.   Charles,  a  stone 
church  and  a  convent  for  the  religious  of  the 


I  JO  i-ATHKR  VAN    QUICKE:NB0RNE. 

Sacred  Heart,  as  well  as  a  residence  These 
toilsome  undertakings,  and  all  the  manifold 
cares  arising  from  them,  seemed  but  to  freshen 
his  activity:  he  only  finished  one  enterprise  to 
begin  a  new  one. 

Florissant  and  St.  Charles  became  as  many 
rallying-points  around  which  little  colonies  of 
Catholics  and  Protestants  formed  and  multiplied. 
The  missionaries  went  in  every  direction  to  af- 
ford spiritual  aid  for  so  many  abandoned  souls, 
too  often  more  destitute  of  the  riches  of  grace 
than  of  those  of  earth.  Father  Van  Quicken- 
borne  devoted  himself  to  these  apostolic  courses 
with  real  gladness  of  heart;  his  consuming  zeal 
found  the  sweetest  consolation  in  the  conversions 
which  he  effected.  The  Protestants  testified  the 
greatest  respect  towards  him,  altho  then  (in  1824, 
1825,  etc.),  as  at  present,  their  ministers  spared 
no  means  to  fetter  his  proceedings  and  arrest 
the  effects  of  his  zeal.  They  depicted  our  relig- 
ion as  an  assemblage  of  absurd  and  contemptible 
doctrines :  they  drew  most  revolting  portraits  of 
the  missiotiary.  Among  certain  of  the  lower  class- 
es, they  even  went  so  far  as  to  make  him  a  monster 
with  cloven  feet,  horns  on  his  head,  and  amied 
with  claws.  Hence,  when  the  Father  appeared 
among  thein  for  the  first  time,  these  poor  peo- 
ple flocked  around,  scanned  him  attentively  from 
head  to  foot,  and  finding  him  like  other  men,  they 
immediately  listened  to  him,  and  were  converted 
without  the  least  difficulty. 

In  one  of  his  rides,  there  happened  to  him  one 
of  those  singular  facts  in  which  he  recognized 
more  particularly  the  action  of  divine  Provi- 
dence. Arrived  at  a  place  where  the  road 
branched,  he  intended  taking  the  more  beaten 
road,  but  his  horse  resisted.  In  vain  he  urged 
him  to  obey :  the  animal  prevailed  over  the  ims- 


FATHER  VAN   QUICKENBORNE:.  I7I 

sionary,  and  darted  rapidly  into  the  otiier  and  less 
agreeable  way.  The  route  crossed  a  forest. 
Night  came  on,  and  he  found  himself  obliged  to 
stop  at  a  little  cottage,  as  poor  as  solitary,  and, 
as  it  were,  lost  by  its  little  dimensions  in  the 
towering  wood.  The  Father  met  with  a  cold 
reception.  As  they  perceived  he  was  a  mission- 
ary priest  a  great  reserve  was  maintained.  Sup- 
per was  indeed  served  for  him»  but  they  spoke 
with  him  in  a  timid  and  embarrassed  manner. 
He  understood  the  cause.  In  the  corner  of  the 
room  lay  a  sick  child  with  a  fever,  and  in  ex- 
tremities. The  missionary  asked  the  distracted 
mother  whether  her  boy  had  received  baptism. 
On  being  answered  in  the  negative,  he  began  to 
explain  the  necessity  of  this  sacrament.  "God 
Himself  sent  me  here,"  added  he,  "to  open  to 
your  child  the  portals  of  heaven ;  you  must  hast- 
en, for  soon  he  will  be  no  more!"  Tlie  mother 
replied  disdainfully,  that  she  would  never  suffer 
a  priest  to  baptise  her  son ;  that  she  did  not  be- 
lieve in  baptism.  It  was  in  vain  to  insist.  As 
the  child  was  consumed  with  thirst  the  Father, 
feigning  to  renounce  his  first  idea,  very  kindly 
attempted  to  relieve  it  from  time  to  time,  by 
giving  it  a  little  water,  and  at  a  moment  when  the 
mother,  occupied  with  other  things,  turned  her 
attention  elsewhere,  he  baptised  the  child,  who 
scared  to  heaven  a  few  minutes  after. 

A  short  time  after  this,  passing  near  tlie  cot- 
tage, the  Father  called  again  and  asked  to  see 
the  mother  of  the  child.  This  time  he  found  her 
affable  and  obliging.  She  evinced  a  very  great 
desire  to  have  some  information  concerning  the 
Catholic  religion.  Soon  she  r. vowed  that  all  she 
had  heard  on  the  necessity  of  Irc^^itism  troubled 
her,  and  that  she  deplored  it  as  a  m-'sfortune  that 
she  had  deprived  lie.-  son  of  so  great  a  grace. 


172  I^ATHKR   VAN    OUICKENBORNK. 

"Console  yourself,"  said  the  kind  Father,  '*your 
son  received  baptism,  and  he  now  enjoys  the 
beatific  vision.  He  now  intercedes  for  you  with 
God.  Receive  baptism,  and  you  will  one  day 
share  his  happiness."  These  words  produced 
the  desired  effect.  The  woman  was  converted, 
and,  with  her  whok  family,  received  baptism. 
Such  were  the  blessed  consequences  of  the  ob- 
stinacy of  the  horse.  Strangely  enough,  on  the 
day  after,  he  follov.^ed  the  other  road  without 
any  show  of  resistance. 

The  salvation  of  souls  was,  with  this  apostolic 
man,  an  ever-present  thought,  desire,  and  neces- 
sity. He  had  also  a  wonderful  art  in  seizing 
occasions  and  profiting  by  circumstances.  He 
understood  also,  by  his  conversations  and  nar- 
ratives, how  to  communicate  to  others  the  zeal 
with  which  he  was  inflamed.  They  were  capti- 
vated, so  that  those  who  could  not  assist  him  by 
their  labors,  pledged  themselves,  at  least,  to 
assist  him  by  their  prayers.  Thus,  in  order  to 
engage  his  novices  to  pray  with  ardor,  he  grant- 
ed them  a  little  feast  each  time  that  the  con- 
versions attained  a  certain  number. 

The  Protestants,  we  have  already  observed* 
m?de  efforts  to  throw  obstacles  in  the  path  of 
the  man  of  God,  but  he  had  to  struggle  especial- 
ly with  the  Methodists.  One  day  he  gave  a 
severe  blow  to  the  influence  of  these  noisy  secta- 
rians. Being  on  a  mission,  he  heard  that  they 
were  to  hold  a  meeting  in  a  place  named  to  him. 
For  a  long  time  he  had  sought  an  occasion  of 
coming  in  contact  with  them.  He,  therefore,  set 
out  for  the  appointed  locality,  and  endeavored 
to  attract  there  all  the  Protestants  that  he  could 
find.  The  Methodists  were  holding  their  meet- 
ing in  the  church.  The  Father,  on  his  arrival, 
found  an  immense     concour.^e.     His     religious 


FATHER  VAN   gUICKENBORNE.  1/3 

habit  aud  his  venerable  air,  at  first  excited  a  pro- 
found astonishment  in  men,  most  of  whom  saw 
d  priest  for  the  first  time.     In  their  amazement, 
several  cried  uot:  ''What  does  that  queer  man 
want?"     The  Father  answered  modestly,  that  he 
was  desirous  of  hearing  fiom  their  mouths  some 
explanations  on  certain  important  points  which 
concerned  religion,  and  bagged  they  would  allow 
him  to  propose  a  few  questions.    Then,  profiting 
by  the  consent  which  they  i^ave  him.  he  began 
to  interrogate  them  on  the  essential  points  that 
distin^^-uished  the  true  from  the  erroneous  doc- 
trines.    The  ministers  wish  to  reply,  but  no  two 
answer  in  the  same  manner.     They  refute  them- 
selves, and  contradict  each  other.     The  Father 
insists;  they  disagree.     The  confusion  only  in- 
creases, to  the  great  scandal  of  the  auditors,  who 
thus  have  an  evidence  that  those  ministers,  so 
habituated  to  despise  the  priests  in  their  absence, 
are  incapable  of  replying  to  them  when  they  meet 
them.     The  Father  left  these  men  disputing  (to 
their  shame  and  confusion),  and  went  to  make  a 
discourse  in  tlie  open  air  on  the  unity,  sanctity, 
catholicitv.  and  apostolicity  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic Church,  which  all  sects  and  all  their  ministers 
united  can  never  shake.     Such  astonishing  bold- 
ness, the  talents  of  the  preacher,  and  the  solidity 
of  his  reasonings,  conciliated  the  attention  and 
respect  of  all.     He  had  gained  a  signal  victory 
over  the  ministers  of  falsehood     and     calumny. 
During  a  lon^g  period,  their  discourses  had  no 
echo  in  that  place.     Every  time  that  the  Father 
returned   there,    they   opened   the   hotel    of   the 
town  to  him,  that  he  might  celebrate  Mass  and 
preach.     His  sermons,  every  time,  produced  nu- 
merous conversions. 

On  entering  the  apostolical  career,  Father  Van 
Quickenborne  enjoyed  a  robust  health:  but  the 


174  FATHER   VAN   QUICKENBORNE. 

severe  labors  and  incessant  hardships  of  the 
apostolale  undermined  his  strength.  However, 
his  infirmities  never  cooled  the  ardor  of  his  zeal). 
His  charity  and  his  confidence  in  God  seemed 
to  supply  the  weakness  of  nature,  and  God, 
more  than  once,  seconded  his  efforts  in  a  marvel- 
ous manner.  One  day,  while  he  was  retained  in 
his  bed  by  a  severe,  and  even  serious  malady, 
they  came  to  tell  him  that  a  poor  Catholic,  dying, 
a  hundred  miles  off^  implored  the  comforts  of 
religion.  To  the  amazement  of  all,  he  caused 
a  cart  to  be  prepared,  ordered  his  matress  to  be 
laid  in  it,  and  taking  with  him  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment and  the  oils  he  set  forth,  after  giving  to 
them  all  his  blessing.  All  received  it,  as  tho  it 
would  be  the  last.  They  followed  their  kina 
Father  with  fears  and  regrets.  After  a  few  days 
he  reappeared  among  them  quite  triumphant ;  he 
had  administered  to  the  sick  man,  and  was  him- 
self perfectly  cured". 

His  apostolical  zeal  inclined  him  above  all  to 
those  places  in  which  he  saw  more  spiritual  pri- 
vations and  more  neglect.  He  ardently  desired 
to  go  and  evangelize  tlie  poor  Indians,  wander- 
ing in  the  wilderness.  He  made  several  excur- 
sions among  the  Osages  and  the  lowas,  and  each 
time  the  most  precious  fruits  met  his  expecta- 
tion. In  1836,  he  succeeded,  by  soliciting,  in 
collecting  some  money  in  the  different  States. 
He  at  once  commenced  a  fixed  residence  among 
the  Kickapoos ;  already  he  had  built  a  house  and 
chapel.  He  had  visited  the  neighboring  tribes, 
and  formed  the  most  extensive  and  solid  de- 
signs for  their  conversion,  when  he  was  sudden- 
ly arrested  in  the  midst  of  his  enterprises.  The 
Superior  of  the  Missions  in  Missouri,  on  paying 
the  visit  to  his  missionaries,  found  the  Father  so 
feeble  in   health   that   he   judged   him   incapabl© 


FATHER  VAN   OUICKENBORNE.  1/5 

of  continuing  his  labors.  As  soon  as  the 
Superior  returned  to  St.  Louis  he  recalled  him. 

Faithful  to  the  voice  of  obedience,  Father  Van 
Quickenborne  quitted  his  cherished  mission.  He 
reappeared  at  St.  Louis  with  a  cheerful  counte- 
nance, reposed  there  some  dr:ys,  went  to  make 
his  annual  retreat  at  the  novitiate,  and  then  set 
out  for  St.  Charles,  so  as  to  go  thence  to  the 
little  parish  of  St.  Francis  in  the  Portage  des 
Sioux.  There  he  was  to  lead  a  quiet  life,  assist- 
ed by  one  coadjutor  brother,  and  only  bestow- 
ing his  cares  on  this  little  flock.  But  is  there  any 
hope  of  limiting  his  zealous  efforts?  He  set 
himself  at  once  to  build  a  church  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  he  was  desirous  of  converting  a 
certain  number  of  Protestant  families.  These 
labors  were  absorbing  his  whole  attention,  when 
he  was  attacked  by  a  bilious  fever  which  carried 
him  off  in  some  days,  resisting  all  the  cares  of  an 
experienced  physician. 

Father  Pallaison  assited  him  in  the  hour  of 
death.  The  man  of  God  was  calm  until  the  end, 
and  filled  with  devout  resignation.  He  received 
the  last  sacraments  with  a  deep  and  touching 
piety,  and  saw  death  approaching  without  fear. 
About  twenty  minutes  before  expiring,  preceiv- 
iiig  his  last  moment,  **Pray  for  me/'  said  he  to 
the  Father  and  Brother  who  were  near  him. 
These  were  his  last  words.  He  expired  without 
agony.  His  death  took  place  on  the  i/th  of 
August.  T837.  His  body,  followed  by  crowds, 
was  borne  to  St.  Charles,  and  interred  with  much 
pomp  in  the  middle  of  the  graveyard,  at  the  foot 
of  the  cross.  Catholics  and  Protestants  assisted 
at  his  funeral,  for  he  was  beloved  by  all. 

The  lengthened  labors  of  this  apostolic  man, 
and  the  churches  which  he  built,  suffice  to  per- 


176  FATHER  VAN   QUICKENBORNE. 

petuate  his  memory,  were  it  not  already  deeply 
erjgraven  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him. 

P.  J.  De  Smet,  S.  J. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FATHER    VERREYDT. 

Hoii'  brave  and  earnest  the  pioneers  must  have 
been  to  follow  the  trail  of  the  red  man  and  blaze 
the  li'ay  for  us  to  come  in.—]tsst  htt  Beck. 

Father  Felix  L.  A'^erreydt  was  born  in  Belgium 
Feb.  i8.  1798.  He  was  the  immediate  predecessor 
of  Father  Schoenmakers  as  missionary  among  the 
Osage?,  and  was  one  of  the  six  young  men  who 
came  to  America  from  Belgium  in  1820  with 
Rev.  Fr.  Nerinckx  and  entered  the  novitiate  at 
White  \larsh,  M'^ryland.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  six  young  men  who  volunteered  to  accom- 
pany Father  \'an  Ouickenborne  to  Missouri  m 
1823.  and  he  helped  to  establish  the  Jesuits  at 
Florissant,  Mo.,  their  first  home  west  of  the 
Mississippi  river.  During  the  first  few  months 
of  their  stav  at  Florissant  the  eight  Jesuits  were 
all  lodged  m  one  log  cabin.  Their  beds  were 
•'pallets  on  the  floor."  Fr.  Verreydt  helped  to 
cut  the  logs  and  erect  some  of  the  first  buildings 
at  Florissant.  He  had  not  completed  his  studies 
for  the  priesthood  at  that  time,  but  he  did  physi- 
cal labor  during  the  day  and  studied  his  books 
at  night.  He  also  devoted  part  of  his  time  to 
teaching  the  Indian  children.  ^  ^ 

Father  \"errevdt  was  ordained  priest  at  Floris- 
sant in  September.  1827,  by  Bishop  Rosati,  and 
was  assigned  to  the  church  at  St.  Charles.  Later 
he  was  transferred  to  Portage  des  Sioux,  near 
St   Louis,  where  in  1834  be  built  a  biick  church. 


178  FATHER  VKRREYDT. 

Some  time  before  1837  he  and  Father  Chris- 
lion  Hoecken  were  located  at  a  mission  among 
the  Kickapoos  near  Ft.  Leavenworth. 

On  August  29,  1 84 1,  he  joined  the  Jesuit 
colony  at  St.  Mary's  Mission  on  Sugar  Creek 
where  the  town  of  Centerville,  Kansas,  now 
stands.  There  he  organized  an  anti-liquor  bri- 
gade for  the  protection  of  the  Indians  against 
liquor  peddlers.  The  brigade  kept  a  sharp  out- 
Jook  for  any  Hquor  that  might  enter  the  village 
and  destroyed  it.  The  brigade  did  effective  work 
for  a  number  of  years. 

In  November,  1847,  lie  selected  the  site  on 
the  Kaw  river  where  St.  Mary's,  Kansas,  now 
stands,  as  the  future  location  of  the  colony,  and 
on  June  20^  1848,  the  spot  on  which  St.  Mary's 
College  now  stands  was  chosen  by  him  for  the 
Indian  girls  school  under  charge  of  the  Sisters 
of  Sacred)  Heart,  and  on  September  7,  1848, 
Father  Verreydt  led  the  little  band  into  the  build- 
ing which  had  been  erected  for  the  school.  The 
buildings  for  the  boys'  school  were  erected  near 
by  that  winter,  and  from  these  grew  St.  Mary's 
College.  It  was  at  this  place  that  Bishop  Miege 
and  Father  Ponziglione  arrived  Miay  24.  1851,  on 
their  way  from  St.  Louis  to  Osage  Mission.  They 
stopped  for  about  a  month  before  proceeding  to 
the  home  of  the  Osages. 

The  records  of  St.  Francis'  church  at  St. 
Paul,  show  two  trips  io  the  Osages  on  the  Neo- 
sho by  Father  Verreydt,  one  in  1843  and  the 
other  in  1846.  On  each  trip  he  reported  a  num- 
ber of  baptisms.  After  the  missionary  work  in 
the  west  was  turned  over  to  Father  Schoen- 
makers  he  was  /given  charger,  in  eastern  Miss- 
ouri in  T850  and  labored  there  for  years,  part  of 
the  time  at  St.  Charles  and  Portage  des  Sioux, 
and  part  of  the  time  at  the  St.  T^uis  Univerf'ity. 


FATHER  VERREYDT.  1 79 

He  outlived  all  of  those  who  were  his  compan- 
ions to  America  from  Belgium,  and  was  more 
than  four  score  years  old  when  he  died  at  the 
home  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  at  St.  Xavier's  Col- 
lege, in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  March  i,  1883.  He 
was  buried  in  the  Jesuit  cemetery  near  the  scene 
of  his  early  labors  at  St.  Stanislaus  Seminary, 
Florissant,  Mo. 

Father  Verreydt  was  a  zealous  priest,  a  tire- 
less worker,  and  a  man  of  marked  ability.  Truly 
he  left  ''footprints  on  the  sands  of  time,"  in 
Kansas  that  will  not  be  obliterated  for  ages  yet 
to  come. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FATHER    JOHN    SCHOENMAKERS. 

"Unto  a  task  of  seeming  lowliness — 
Yet  God-like  in  its  purpose,  he  went  forth 
To  bind  the  broken  spirit — to  pluck  back 
The  heathen  from  the  ivorship  of  the  planets — 
To  place  the  spiritual  image  of  God, 
Holy  and  just  and  true,  before  the  eye 
Of  the  dark-minded  Indian — and  unseal 
The  holy  pages  of  the  Book  of  Life." 

— Adopted  From  Whittier. 

Father  John  vSchoenmakers,  S.  J.,  has  been 
properly  termed  the  "Father  of  Osage  Mission/' 
He  might  as  truly  be  termed  the  "Father  of 
Civilization  in  Southeastern  Kansas,"  for  he 
formed  the  first  pemianent  white  settlement  in 
what  is  now  Southeastern  Kansas,  but  at  that 
time  known  as  the  Western  Indian  Territory. 
It  is  true  he  was  not  the  first  white  person  to 
visit  the  region  of  the  Neosho,  but  those  preced- 
ing him  were  either  traders  or  transitory  mission- 
aries who  remained  but  a  short  time  in  one  place. 
It  v/as  like  going  out  of  civilization  for  Father 
Schoenmakers  and  his  little  party  to  come  into 
this  western  country,  hundreds  of  miles  from  a 
railroad  or  a  town,  where  there  were  few  con- 
veniences of  life,  where  the  ways  of  the 
white  man  were  little  known  and  where  the  dark- 
skinned  rovers  of  the  plains  held  sway.    But 

''Since   the  davs  Loyola   lived  and   tauqht 
(iHo) 


FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS.  l8l 

There  has  not  blown  a  wind  that  did  not  fill 
Some  whitened  sail,  bearing  to  distant  lands 
His  earnest  sons,  to  plant  the  seeds  of  faith," 

On  the  20th  of  November,  1807,  there  was 
born  in  an  hnnible  home  in  the  town  of  Waspick, 
Langstaat,  province  of  North  Brabant,  in  Hol- 
land, John  Schoenmakers,  son  of  Henry  Schoen- 
makers  and  Petronella  Kamp,  both  natives  of 
\\'aspick.  In  his  youth  he  was  a  student  at  the 
DeNef  school  in  Tournout,  Belgium.  Mr.  De- 
Nef  was  a  layman  but  was  extremely  interested 
in  the  American  missions  and  John  Schoenmak- 
ers was  only  one  of  the  many  young  men  whom 
he  influenced  to  prepare  for  American  mission- 
ary labors.  John  Schoenmakers  was  ordained 
as'  a  secular  priest  in  1833,  celebrating  his  first 
Mass  April  16.  1833.  He  was  thoroly  imbued 
with  the  desire  to  join  the  Jesuits  and  to  become 
a  missionary  among  the  American  Indians,  and 
to  carry  out  that  idea  he  set  sail  for  New  York 
as  soon  as  he  could  get  his  affairs  arranged,  ar- 
riving in  tliat  city  on  Christmas  day,  1833.  He 
proceeded  without  delay  to  Georgetown,  Mary- 
land, where  he  joined  the  Jesuit  order,  January 
16,  1834.  In  June,  1834.  he  was  sent  to  Floris- 
sant to  join  Father  Van  Quickenborne's  little 
colony.  At  Florissant  he  had  for  his  companions 
Father  De  Smet,  Father  Verreydt  and  others 
who  soon  after  became  noted  missionaries,  some 
of  them  of  world  wide  fame.  Soon  after,  he 
was  given  a  position  at  the  St.  Louis  I'niversity. 
This  place  he  held  until  1837,  when  he  was  rnade 
superior  of  the  Jesuit  colony  which  then  resided 
in  that  part  of  North  St.  Louis  called  Lowell, 
at  that  time  open  country.  It  was  also  known 
as  the  "College  Farm"  and  was  used  for  a  sum- 
mer retreat  for  the  Jesuits.    At  the  time  he  was 


l82  FATIIKR   SCHOKNMAKERS. 

selected  to  take  charge  of  the  mission  to  be 
established  among  the  Osages  on  the  Neosho,  he 
was  pastor  of  the  church  of  St.  Charles  Bor- 
romeo  at  St.  Charles.  Mo. 

LF.AVKS  FOR  THE  OSAGES. 

Father  Schoenmakers"  tirst  trip  to  the  land  of 
the  Osages,  the  scene  of  his  future  labors,  was 
made  in  1846,  to  inspect  the  buildings  that  were 
being  erected  under  direction  of  M'ajor  Harvey, 
and  to  make  arrangements  for  the  establishment 
of  his  permanent  home,  after  which  he  returned 
to  St.  Louis  for  supplies  and  to  await  the  com- 
pletion of  the  buildings. 

On  /\pril  7,  1847.  Father  Schoenmakers,  ac- 
companied by  Father  Bax  and  three  Jesuit  lay- 
brothers,  left  St.  Louis,  on  his  return  to  the 
Osages.  They  traveled  up  the  Mississippi  and 
I'Jissouri  rivers  by  boat  to  Westport,  near  Kan- 
sas City  and  from  there  made  their  way  to  the 
Neoslio  by  wagon.  Instead  of  the  fast  horses  or 
the  automobiles  driven  by  the  people  of  to-day, 
Father  Schoenmakers  had  two  or  three  teams  of 
oxen  vvhicli  made  the  trip  thru  the  then  wild  and 
uninhabited  country  a  long  and  tedious  one. 
There  ^\'cre  no  houses  where  he  might  pass  the 
night,  and  when  he  and  his  little  company  lay 
pown  at  night  for  a  little  rest  there  was  no  shel- 
ter over  them,  save  one,  the  broad  canopy  of 
heaven.  It  required  seven  days  to  make  the 
journey  from  Westport  to  the  Neosho,  after 
they  had  already  been  two  weeks  getting  from 
St.  Louis  to  Vvestport.  They  arrived  on  the 
scene  of  their  future  labors,  April  28  or  29,  1847. 
and  took  up  their  abode  near  Flatrock  creek  not 
far  from  v/here  St.  Francis'  church,  St.  Paul, 
Kansas,  now  stands.     The  Osages  had  a  small 


FATHER   SCHOEN MAKERS.  183 

town  of  about  twenty-five  wigwams  near  by 
and  they  gave  the  "black  gowns"  a  most  cordial 
welcome.  They  liad  been  awaiting  Father 
Schoenmakers  promised  return,  and  were  filled 
with  joy  when  the  promise  was  fulfilled.  From 
that  time  on  he  was  their  friend,  their  teacher, 
their  counsellor,  and  their  spiritual  adviser. 


OPENS  THE   SCHOOL. 

Father  Schoenmakers  lost  no  time  after  his 
arrival  at  the  Mission.  He  and  his  associates 
began  active  preparation  for  opening  the  schooL 
and  for  looking  after  the  spiritual  needs  of  the 
Osages.  The  first  official  act  recorded  on  the 
church  records  after  their  arrival  was  the  bap- 
tism of  Sara,  daughter  of  Shoenka,  by  Father 
Bax  on  ]\Tay  2,  1847.  "^^'^^  first  baptism  by  Fath- 
er Schoenmakers  recorded  was  preformed  on 
May  9,  1847,  Htein  Shoenka  bein,g  the  person 
baptised  by  him. 

Immediately  upon  his  arrival  Father  Schoen- 
makers set  about  to  make  as  comfortable  as  pos- 
sible the  rude  quarters  furnished  by  the  govern- 
ment for  the  school  and  the  home  of  himself  and 
his  associate  workers.  There  were  no  whites 
among  the  Osages  then  except  a  few  roving  trad- 
ers. Skilled  laborers  could  not  be  employed, 
hence  there  was  much  manual  labor  to  be  per- 
formed by  Father  Schoenmakers  and  the  three 
brothers  who  had  accompanied  him  west.  But 
they  set  about  it  with  a  will  and  on  May  9.  1847, 
enrolled  Peter  Brond  a?  the  first  pupil  in  the 
school.  Louis  Louison  was  the  second.  The 
school  was  called  the  Osage  Manual  Laboring 
school  and  was  formally  opened  on  May  10.^  1847. 
and  by  the  end  of  the  month  fourteen  were  en- 


1 84  FATHER  SCHOEN MAKERS. 

rolled.     The  total  enrollment  the  first  year  was 
twenty-eight. 

The  school  had  many  handicaps,  one  of  the 
greatest  being  the  buildings.  The  government 
had  planned  well,  and  had  appropriated  a  suffi- 
cient sum  of  money  from  the  funds  which  the  In- 
dians had  on  deposit  with  the  government,  but 
some  of  those  whose  duty  it  was  to  construct  the 
buildings  and  put  them  in  proper  condition  failed 
miserably  to  perform  that  duty  faithfully.  ^ 

Father  Bax  made  a  report  in  writing  to  Extra- 
ordinary Agent,  Mr.  Devereaux,  which  tells  of 
these  things.  The  copy  of  the  report  on  the 
church  records  is  not  dated,  but  the  text  indicates 
it  was  written  in  the  fall  of  1847.  ^^  i^  ^^  ^*^^" 
lows : 

''The  houses  destined  for  the  Mission  are  un- 
lit to  be  inhabited.  They  are  unhnished,  the 
plastering  of  the  rooms  has  fallen  off,  some  of 
the  chimnies  have  fallen  in.  the  joining  of  the 
walls  are  fallen  out.  Mr.  Harvey  directed  to 
have  both  of  the  houses  weatherboarded  which 
has  not  been  done,  the  fence  around  the  houses 
destined  for  the  education  of  the  females  is  un- 
fit, not  preventing  the  approach  of  the  Indians. 
The  buildings  erected  are  too  small  to  accomrno- 
date  the  children,  so  it  is  of  the  utmost  necessity 
to  have  adjoining  buildings  erected. 

"We  opened  the  school  on  the  roth  of  May 
and  began  with  13  bovs  and  continued  until  Aug- 
ust when  three  more  cam.e.  about  the  loth  of 
October  two  more  and  before  they  will  go  on  the 
summer  hunt  about  six  or  eight  will  come  in. 
Many  have  given  notice  of  sending  in  their  boj^s 
at  that  period.  There  is  no  doubt  but  before 
winter  approaches  more  vrill  present  themselves 
as  we  are  able  to  take  care  of  them  according  to 


PATHliK   SCHOKN MAKERS.  1 8$ 

contract.  The  present  boys  surpass  in  every 
respect  bv  far  our  expectations. 

"We  desire  very  much  the  government  would 
encourage  the  Usages  their  beginning  to  culti- 
vate the  soil,  for  unless  they  change  their  man- 
ner of  living  we  can  expect  but  little  fruit  from 
the  education  we  endeovor  to  impart  to  their  chil- 
dren. Several  of  the  Indians  begin  to  see  this 
as  the  buffalo  becomes  more  scarce  every  year. 
Still  the  traders  encourage  them  very  much  for 
hunting  so  that  we  fear  some  will  never  change 
as  long  as  they  can  find  any  game.  Still  we  hope 
that  the  means  the  government  has  afforded  for 
education  of  the  females  will  hasten  their  man- 
ner of  living." 

Father  Schoenmakers,  as  head  of  the  institu- 
tion, devoted  his  greatest  energies  to  the  schools. 
His  contract  with  the  government  held  him  re- 
sponsible for  the  school  for  the  girls  as  well  as 
the  one  for  the  boys  and  altho  the  girls'  school 
was  under  charge  of  able  Sisters,  it  nevertheless 
required  considerable  attention  from  him.  The 
scarcity  of  teachers  in  the  school  for  boys  as 
well  as  the  shortage  of  assistants  in  the  mission- 
ary work  made  his  duties  very  numerous  and 
rather  strenuous.  Supplies  had  to  be  obtained 
from  a  great  distance  and  were  weeks  on  the 
road.  In  addition  to  the  usual  hardships  of 
pioneer  life  with  insufficient  and  poor  quarters, 
came  the  drouth,  the  grassnoppers,  the  scourge 
of  disease,  the  war  and  many  other  perplexing 
and  troublesome  propositions  which  cause  one 
of  this  da}^  to  wonder  how  he  got  along  so  well. 
Nevertheless  his  schools  were  kept  open  and 
made  good  progress  except  for  a  short  period 
during  the  measles  epidemic  in  1852  and  again 
during  the  early  part  of  the  civil  war. 

In    the    records   kept    Father    Schoenmakers 


1 86  FATHER  SCHOEN MAKERS, 

says :  "The  branches  hitherto  taught  are  per- 
formed in  EngUsh,  viz;  spelling,  reading,  arith- 
metic, singing.  Christian  morahty,  agriculture 
and  domestic  economy." 

Vvlien  the  Kansas  department  of  education  a 
few  years  ago  added  agriculture  to  the  course  of 
study  required  in  the  public  schools  of  the  state, 
it  was  regarded  as  an  innovation,  something  en- 
tirely new,  yet  this  was  one  of  the  regular  branch- 
es taught  in  the  school  established  among  the 
OsageS:  even  before  Kansas  was  organized  as 
a  territory.  Much  the  same  may  be  said  of 
domestic  economy.  Father  Schoenmakers  taught 
those  branches  which  he  believed  would  be  most 
valuable  to  his  pupils.  There  were  then  no 
school  laws,  no  prescribed  course  of  study,  no 
school  boards  to  dictate  to  him. 

In  the  spring  of  1852  a  Quapaw  Indian  came 
to  visit  the  school.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he 
became  sick  and  soon  developed  a  case  of  meas- 
les. This  started  an  epidemic  of  the  disease 
that  spread  all  over  the  Osage  Nation  and  caused 
many  deaths.  Only  one  pupil  in  the  school  es- 
caped the  disease.  This  temporarily  closed  the 
school.  Caring  for  the  sick  also  added  to  the 
burdens  of  the  Mission,  and  bi  ought  on  a  most 
trying  time.  Father  Bax  worked  most  faithfully 
among  the  Indians  in  trying  to  allay  the  ravages 
of  the  disease,  .eriving  little  heed  to  himself.  As 
a  result  he  contracted  an  ailment  from  which  he 
died  a  few  weeks  later. 

QUAPAW    INDIAMS    ADMTTTlvD   TO   SCHOOL. 

Father  Bax  did  some  work  among  the  Qua- 
paw Indians  and  won  their  friendship  to  such 
an  extent  that  they  sought  admission  for  their 
children  to  the  school.     The  first  baptism  of  a 


FATHER  SCHOEN MAKERS.  187 

Quapavv  recorder  by  the  Fathers  at  the  Mission 
was  performed  September  i8,  1848.  Fifty-three 
Quapaws  were  baptised  in  1850.  Application 
for  admission  to  the  school  was  made  soon  after, 
but  as  the  funds  used  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the 
school  were  taken  by  the  government  from  Osage 
money  in  the  U.  S.  treasury,  Father  Schoenmak- 
ers  required  the  Quapaws  to  get  the  consent  of 
the  Osages  before  admitting  the  children. 

The  following  letter  written  by  Father  v^choen- 
makers  to  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs 
tells  of  the  negotiations  : 

Osage  Manual  School.  20th  of  May,  1853. 
To  The  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 
Washington,  D.  C 
Honorable  Sir :  In  the  supposition  that  a  pe- 
tition has  been  handed  to  your  honor,  signed  by 
the  Quapaw  Chiefs,  on  the  15th  of  May,  1853, 
and  approved  by  the  agent,  W.  T.  Morrow,  1 
take  the  freedom  to  write  to  you  the  following 
lines,  being  myself  principally  concerned  in  the 
good  results  that  may  be  effected  by  the  grant 
of  said  petition.  At  the  advice  of  our  agent,  I 
was  {prevailed  upon  to  yield  to  the  earnest  re- 
quests of  the  Quapaw  Chiefs  and  have  taken,  on 
the  28th  of  Feb.,  1853,  ten  Quapaw  children 
into  the  Osage  school,  being  myself  witness  that 
the  Quapaw  chiefs  have  obtained  in  council,  thru 
the  medium  of  the  agent,  the  unanimous  consent 
and  approbation  of  the  Osage  Chiefs.  Tt  was 
not  expected  that  many  of  the  Quapaw  parents 
would  have  consented  to  send  their  children 
some  60  or  70  miles  from  home,  the  above  men- 
tioned ten  Quapaw  children  being  perfectly  sat- 
isfied at  the  Osage  school  have  caused  the  num- 
ber of  Oiiaj^aw  pupils  to  increase  to  seventeen 


l88  FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS. 

and  seven  girls,  there  being  on  this  20th  day  of 
May,  24  Quapaw  children  at  the  Osage  school. 

However  great  my  desire  may  be  of  educating 
said  children,  unless  1  receive  $55  per  annum  for 
board  and  tuition  of  each  child  I  could  not  con- 
tinue their  education,  having  learned  from  six 
years'  experience  that  the  Osage  school  has  cost 
me  $800  per  year  extra  of  the  education  fund  at 
$55  per  annum  for  each  child.  Whilst  I  am  v^ait- 
ing  for  a  favorable  answer  to  the  above  named 
petition  of  the  Quapaw  Chiefs  I  will  in  the  mean- 
time receive  no  other  Quapaw  children  into  the 
Osage  school,  expecting  that  the  honorable  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Indian  department  will  authorize 
me  to  give  education  to  upwaids  cf  30  Quapaw 
youths  at  $55  per  annum  for  each  pupil. 

I  will  send  this,  my  letter,  to  the  Indian  agent 
that  it  may  be  signed  by  him  and  that  it  may  be 
known  to  all  concerned  that  T  have  no  unjust 
views  or  self  interests,  but  that  I  wish  to  satisfy 
the  desire  of  said  Quapaw  Indians. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

I.  SCHOEN MAKERS,  S.  J. 
DROUTHS   AND  GRASSHOPPERS. 

The  small  allowance  of  v$55  per  year  for  board, 
and  schooling  of  each  pupil,  made  by  the  gov- 
ernment was  not  sufficient  to  pay  the  running 
expenses  of  the  school,  and  agriculture  had  to 
be  taken  up  to  supply  some  of  the  wants  of  the 
community.  This  did  very  well  until  1854  which 
was  an  exceptionally  dry  year  and  very  little  was 
produced.  This  necessitated  the  purchase  of  all 
supplies  used,  which  because  of  the  dry  season 
were  not  easily  obtained  at  moderate  prices.  In 
his  distress  Father  Schoenmakers  appealed  to 
the  government  for  help  in  the  following  letter : 


•^^^■^^.i^^^., "-'  — « .»^^'"^ 


'■■'-^l  -^^. 


REV.   JOHN  SCHOENMAKERS,  S.  J. 


FATHER  SCHOENMAKKRS.  189 

Osage  Nation,  ist  of  October,  1854. 
To  The  Honorable  Secretary  of  the  Interior : 

The  great  failure  of  crops  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Osage  Manual  Labor  School  places  us  in 
the  necessity  of  calling  upon  the  generosity  of 
the  government. 

The  usual  allowance  of  $55  per  annum  for 
board  and  tuition  and  clothing  of  Osage  and 
Quapaw  children  are  insufficient  to  defray  the 
extraordinary  expenses  of  the  running  year. 
Our  loss  will  amount  to  some  $1,500,  not  count- 
ing our  services.  As  we  do  not  suppose  that  it  is 
the  intention  of  our  generous  government  that 
her  officers  should  sustain  similar  losses,  we 
hope  that  you  will  assist  us  by  presenting,  if 
needs  be,  this  petition  to  congress  either  your- 
self or  thru  your  means  by  some  competent  per- 
son. 

I  certify  that  the  above  statement  is  correct 
and  that  the  loss  will  come  to  no  less  than  $1,500. 

T.    SCHOENMAKERS.    S.    J., 

Supt.  of  O.  M.  L.  School 

Osage  Council  Ground, 

September  30,  1854. 

I    do   most   certainly   believe    that   the   above 

statement  is  reasonable  and  hope  something  may 

be  done  for  the  relief  of  the  proprietors  of  the 

Osage  School. 

Andrew^  J-  Dorn. 
U.  S.  Neosho  Div.  Agt. 

In  response  to  the  appeal  the  government  in- 
creased the  allowance  $18.95  fo^  each  pupil  for 
that  year  and  the  school  was  again  movinsf  along 
when  grasshoppers  destroyed  the  crops  in  1855. 
Two  crop  failures  in  succession  brought  on 
most  trying  conditions,  and  had  it  not  been  Tor 


190  FATHER  SCHOEN MAKERS. 

outside  help  in  addition  to  the  increased  allow- 
ance of  the  government  the  school  would  have 
been  obliged  to  close.  The  Indians  too  were  suf- 
fering and  were  calling  at  the  Mission  for  help. 
In  the  fall  of  1855  the  "Mission"  was  in  dire 
circumstances  when  Father  Schoenmakers  ap- 
pealed to  the  government  to  have  the  increased 
allowance  continued  for  a  longer  period.  At  this 
time  he  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  com- 
missioner of  Indian  affairs,  which  not  only  tells 
of  the  troubles  that  beset  the  "Mission,"  but 
gives  a  description  of  the  buildings : 

Osage  Manual  Labor  School, 
ist  of  October,  1855. 
Hon  Geo.  W.  Merripenny, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 
It  will  be  seen  that  I  have  charged  for  board 
and  tuition  of  Osage  and  Ouapaw  children  at 
the  increased  rate  of  three  preceeding  quarters, 
my  reason  for  so  doing  is  a  total  failure  of  our 
crops  caused  by  the  grasshoppers.  Provisions 
such  as  corn  ineal.  flour,  meat,  etc.,  demand  up 
to  this  moment  high  prices.  I  gratefully  ac- 
knowledge my  obligation  to  your  honor  for  the 
increased  allowance  at  a  rate  of  $18.95  P^^  ^.n- 
num  for  each  child,  made  at  my  request  in  letter 
of  October,  1854,  but  so  exhorbitant  have  been 
the  expenses  of  our  school  during  the  last  and 
current  years  that  before  the  end  of  1854,  I 
h;ad  been  obliged  to  call  upon  my  superior  for 
the  amount  of  $1,000,  and  again  in  the  beginning 
of  1854.  T  received  other  donations  of  $272  to 
support  our  schools.  This  will  not  seem  sur- 
prising if  I  remark  the  fact  that  in  ordinary 
years  the  allowance  of  $55  per  annum  for  each 
child  has  merely  sufficed  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  school.     My  medicine  bills  amount  yearly 


FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS.  I9I 

to  upwards  of  ^100.  Add  to  this  the  indispen- 
sible  obHgation  of  feeding  the  Indians  and  of 
making  them  donations  for  their  daily  wants, 
thereby  to  gain  their  hearts,  or  at  least  to  gain 
their  children  for  civilization. 

Since  we  commenced  the  Osage  School  in 
1847,  but  little  has  been  paid  out  to  hired  hands. 
However  it  has  been  necessary  to  supply  a  year- 
ly deficit  of  about  $800.  I  must  own  it  would 
have  been  much  more  encouraging  to  us  if  we 
had  been  enabled  to  have  used  the  $6,400  in  as- 
sisting our  young  people  after  leaving  school 
and  making  our  own  domestic  life  more  comfort- 
able. 

The  female  department  counts  forty  pupils 
and  eight  female  attendants.  For  the  accommoda- 
tion of  this  large  number,  they  have  one  com- 
mon refectory  20  by  18  feet,  one  play  room  20 
by  22  feet,  and  one  common  dormitory  for  chil- 
dren 20  by  22  feet,  6  1-2  feet  high.  The  play  and 
refectory  rooms  also  serve  as  class  rooms.  Above 
the  refectory  are  also  two  small  rooms  6  1-2  feet 
hieh,  the  one  serves  as  a  wardrobe  and  the 
other  a  sick  room.  Besides  a  kitchen  14  by  14 
feet  and  a  common  parlor,  which  as  late  as  1851 
served  as  a  dining  room  of  the  ladies,  at  which 
time  a  one-story  and  a  half  log  house  was  built 
for  their  private  use. 

The  male  department  is  better  accommodated. 
The  government  made  an  allowance  in  1849  o^ 
$r,ooo  with  which  amount  a  two-story  log  house 
50  by  25  feet  was  built  in  1850  and  has  ever 
since  been  occupied  by  the  boys  and  two  of  the 
teachers.  The  bake,  wash,  store  house  for  the 
ladies,  the  weatherboarding  of  buildings,  a  well 
and  the  above  one  and  a  half  story  house  for  the 
ladies  were  all  made  at  our  own  expenses  in  1850 
and  1857.     Permit  me  to  recall  vour  attention  to 


192  1^ATI1£R   SCHOENMAKERS. 

a  letter  of  the  honorable  I.  Harthy  Cronford  to 
H.  Harvey,  superintendent,  April  25,  1845,  "I 
agree  with  you  that  as  the  measure  is  one  of 
experiment  among  this  tribe  no  more  money 
should  be  expended  than  will  enable  us  to  give 
it  a  fair  trial.  Your  recommendation  therefore 
as  contained  in  your  letter  of  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber, last,  that  two  houses  with  the  necessary  out- 
buildiuiTs  of  sufficient  dimensions  to  accommo- 
date say  twenty  pupils  each  with  the  teachers 
that  will  be  employed,  is  approved.'"  Most  re- 
spectfully your  obedient  servant, 

John  SchoenmaivErs.  S.  J. 

In  response  to  the  above  appeal  the  govern- 
ment extended  the  increased  allowance  of  $18.95 
per  annum  for  each  child  to  cover  the  term  of 
school  ending  June  3,  1855,  but  this  fell  far 
short  of  expenses,  and  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Miege 
and  others  sent  donations  amounting  to  $1,300, 
by  the  aid  of  which  the  school  was  kept  open. 
Crop  conditions  were  better  during  the  next  few 
years  and  the  schools  began  to  prosper  again, 
and  the  number  of  pupils  was  increased.  In 
i860  there  was  another  crop  failure  and  more 
S^rasshoppers,  but  the  school  was  getting  on  a 
firmer  basis  and  was  not  so  badly  afflicted  as  in 
1854  and  1855. 

TROUBLES  DURING  THE  WAR. 

The  coming  on  of  the  civil  war  brought  the 
greatest  affliction  on  the  school  in  this  period; 
in  fact  the  school  was  obliged  to  close  for  a  time 
and  the  Fathers  were  obliged  to  seek  refuge 
northward  at  St.  Mary's.  Father  Schoenmakers 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  north  and  suc- 
ceeded in  keeping  most  of  the  Osages  loyal  to 


FATHER  SCHOEN MAKERS.  I93 

the  Union.  ,  ]\Iost  of  the  Osage  boys  in  the 
school  that  liad  arrived  at  a  sufficient  age,  en- 
hsted  in  the  Union  army.  Being  located  so  near 
the  eastern  and  southern  borders  of  the  state, 
scouting  parties  of  southern  sympathizers  and 
guerillas  were  frequently  seen  in  the  region  of 
the  Mission.  Capt.  John  Mathews,  who  then 
resided  near  the  present  site  of  Oswego,  was 
leader  of  one  of  these  bands.  He  had  previous- 
ly been  a  good  friend  of  the  Fathers  and  had 
sent  his  boys  to'  be  educated  at  the  Mission 
school,  rie  was  a  white  man  but  his  wife  was 
an  Osage  woman.  He  hoped  by  his  relation 
to  the  tribe  to  be  able  to  induce  them  to  join 
VA^th  the  south.,  but  he  found  a  strong  objector 
in  the  person  of  Father  Schoenmakers  who  was 
held  in  greater  respect  than  he  was,  by  the  Osag- 
es.  This  angered  Mathews  and  he  gathered  a 
force  of  men  to  capture  Father  Schoenmakers 
and  break  up  the  Miss'on.  One  of  the  Mathews 
boys  who  had  attended  school  at  the  Mission, 
was  so  attached  to  the  place  and  held  its  mem- 
ory so  sacred  he  could  not  bear  to  have  any  harm 
come  to  it,  even  at  the  hands  of  his  own  father, 
and  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  he  notified  Father 
Schoenmakers,  who  with  his  associates  made  a 
hurried  flight  northward  during  a  dark  and 
rain}^  night.  Providence,  however,  intervened 
and  sent  such  a  rain  that  when  Capt.  M^athews 
and  his  company  reached  Flatrock  creek,  the 
stream  wa«  not  passable  and  he  was  obliged  to 
give  up  his  evil  designs  for  the  present  and  re- 
turn home. 

Samuel  J.  Gillmore,  an  Indian  trader  and  mer- 
chant, living  near  the  Mission,  who  later  occu- 
lted the  famous  "Castle  Thunder"  in  the  west 
part  of  the  town  of  Mission,  was  related  to 
-ATathew?   ifev  marriage,  but  be  was   an  ardent, 


194  FATHiiR   SCHuENMAKliRS. 

outspoken  Unionist.  This  angered  Mathews  and 
added  to  his  fury,  so  Gillmore  sought  safety 
by  moving  to  Humboldt.  In  1876,  Col.  Olin 
Thurston  wrote  some  interestinp^  "Reminiscen- 
ces of  Early  Days,"  for  publication  in  the  Hum- 
boldt Union,  from  which  the  following  is  taken : 

"Partisans  of  the  South  were  active  among 
the  Indians  in  the  south  part  of  the  State.  A 
good  many  of  the  most  intelligent  and  active 
half-breeds  had  from  the  first  been  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  South.  Major  Dorn,  then  agent  of 
the  Osages,  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and 
a  rebel.  The  major,  perhaps,  never  attempted 
to  use  his  influence  with  the  Indians  in  inducing 
them  to  take  arms  against  the  Union,  or  to  ex- 
cite them  to  blood  on  the  border.  Before  ac- 
tive hostilities  commenced  the  major  abandoned 
his  post  as  agent,  for  the  position  of  quarter-mas- 
ter in  the  rebel  service.  The  Mathews  family  of 
half-breeds  were  all  rebels,  and  were  active  in 
opposing  all  measures  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. The  Fathers  at  Osage  Mission,  from  the 
very  first,  used  their  long  experience  and  great 
influence  with  the  Indians  to  keep  them  loyal  to 
the  Government,  and  to  the  efforts  of  these  good 
Fathers  we  are  indebted  for  the  loyalty  of  these 
Indians  during  the  war,  more  than  to  any  other 
cause. 

"The  Mathews  family,  referred  to  above,  had, 
in  the  fall  of  1861.  residing  at  Osage  Mission, 
a  brother-in-law  named  Samuel  Gillmore.  Gill- 
more  was  a  good,  honest,  inoffensive  man,  en- 
gaged in  trading  with  the  Osage  Indians.  Math- 
ews had  some  interest  in  the  trading  house.  Gill- 
more was  a  Union  man.  The  organization  of  an 
army  at  Fort  Scott,  and  one  at  Neosho  progress- 
ed, and  it  was  evident  that  sooner  or  later  the 


FATHER  SCHOKNMAKERS.  195 

two  must  meet.  Foraging  and  scouting  parties 
of  either  army  made  frequent  raids,  and  Gill- 
more  felt  that  he  was  unsafe  at  Osage  Mission, 
and  he  determined  to  change  his  location.  He 
determined  to  move  to  some  point  further  north. 
Particular  reference  is  made  to  this  man  Gill- 
more,  and  his  movements,  not  on  accourt  of  the 
man  or  his  business,  but  because  they  produced 
results  of  a  good  deal  of  importance.  It  is  said 
that  the  battle  of  Waterloo  was  lost  because 
Napoleon  was  not  aware  of  a  certain  ditch,  lying 
between  his  lines  and  those  of  Wellington.  Hum- 
boldt probably  never  would  have  been  sacked 
and  burned  had  it  not  been  for  the  location  of 
this  man  Gillmore.  who  did  not  consider  him- 
self safe  at  the  Mission.  He  gathered  his  teams 
and  wagons,  loaded  in  his  ware  and  merchandise 
very  quietly,  and  with  his  family  started  north. 
It  was  his  intention  to  locate  some  distance  north 
of  the  south  line  of  the  state.  On  his  way  a 
short  distance  north  of  Humboldt  he  met — un- 
fortunately for  him  and  for  Humboldt —  a  gen- 
tleman who  induced  him  to  return  to  Humboldt 
and  open  out  his  stock  of  goods,  and  go  into 
business.  This  was  some  time  in  August  or 
September,  t86t.  One  of  the  Mathews  boys,  it 
appears,  had  an  interest  in  these  goods.  Gill- 
more's  wife  was  a  sister  of  the  Mathews  boys." 

Col.  Thurston  at  the  begining  of  the  war,  had 
raised  a  regiment  of  soldiers  from  among  the 
men  of  Allen  and  Woodson  counties.  This  was 
known  as  the  Seventh  Kansas  regiment  and  was 
under  the  command  of  Gen  J.  H.  Lane.  Whik 
these  men  were  away  with  Lane  Capt.  Mathews 
led  a  band  of  Missouri  guerillas,  Cherokee  In- 
dians and  Osage  half-breeds  into  Humboldt  on 
September  8.    t86t.     Mathews   wanted   revenge 


196  FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS. 

on  Gillmore  and  Father  Schoenmakers  and  he 
proceeded  to  sack  the  town  of  Humboldt,  carry- 
ing oil  all  the  valuables  he  could  find  in  the 
dwellings  and  stores.  A  home  guard  had  pre- 
viously been  organized  among  the  old  men  and 
boys.  These  were  hastily  summoned,  and  under 
command  of  Col.  J.  G.  Blunt  went  in  pursuit  of 
the  raiders,  followed  them  to  Osweeo  where 
Mathews  was  killed.  Humboldt  was  raided  again 
on  October  14.  1 861,  by  a  band  under  Col.  Tal- 
bot, and  much  of  the  town  burned.  Chief  Big 
Bear,  who  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  the  "Mis- 
sion," had  a  band  in  this  second  raid. 

Father  Schoenmakers  returned  to  the  Mission 
in  M^arch,  1862,  and  resumed  his  school  work. 
Gillmore  also  returned  later  and  became  post- 
master in  1864,  of  Catholic  Mission,  as  the  town 
w^as  then  called. 

Three  times  after  Father  Schoenmakers  re- 
turned to  the  Mission,  Southern  s\TTipathizers 
invaded  the  Mission  with  evil  intent.  Each  time 
they  were  persuaded  to  desist  by  the  most  earn- 
est efforts  of  the  good  Fathers  and  by  the  help 
of  Gen.  Blair,  Col.  Thurston  and  others. 

The  troubles  of  the  war  period  were  partly 
told  by  Father  Schoenmakers  in  a  speech  he 
made  on  the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  the  Osage 
Mission  Grist  Mill  on  Flatrock,  September  24. 
1870.^  and  published  in  the  Leavenworth  Com- 
mercial.    The  speech  was  as  follows : 

"On  Christmas  day,  1833,  ^  landed  on  Ameri- 
can soil  at  New  York,  being  a  young  priest 
twenty-four  years  old.  I  had  left  Holland  with 
the  intention  of  livine  and  dying  w^th  the  In- 
dians. Having  reached  Georgetown  College,  my 
new  superior  gave  me  a  book,  the  third  in  dig- 
nity among  pious  authors.     Having  met  with  a 


FATHER  SCHOE;n MAKERS.  197 

stimulent  of  ediiication,  'a  good  father  having 
bought  a  rich  farm  for  his  son,  but  which  had 
been  grown  over  by  briars  and  shrubs,  which 
were  to  be  removed,  the  youth  worked  faithful- 
ly in  company  with  his  father,  but  when  left  to 
himself  the  task  seemed  useless  and  impossible. 
The  experienced  father  then  gave  a  small  task 
to  his  son  to  be  performed  daily  with  a  liberal 
reward  for  each  day.  The  youth,  by  persever- 
ance, cleared  a  large  spot  within  one  month,  and 
being  encouraged  by  success,  he  finished  the 
whole  field,  and  reaped  an  abundant  harvest  the 
following  season.' 

"Before  I  reached  the  field  of  my  labors  four- 
teen years  elapsed.  On  the  loth  of  May,  1847, 
I  gathered  into  our  school  ten  Indian  boys,  then 
visited  Kentucky,  where  I  obtained  the  assistance 
of  the  vSisters  of  Loretto  for  the  girls.  Before 
i860  the  number  of  pupils  had  increased  to  136 
boys  and  100  girls,  whilst  no  less  than  fifty  Osage 
families  had  fenced  in  fields  and  raised  hogs  and 
cattle.  The  war  deprived  the  Osages  of  all  their 
labor  and  prospects.  The  youths  of  our  school; 
above  the  age  of  fifteen  joined  the  Union  army; 
500  Osages  had  gone  vSouth  ;  and  of  the  remain- 
ing 3.0CXD  four  companies  also  joined  the  army. 
New  trials  were  now  upon  us.  Major  Whitney, 
a  special  agent,  had  brought  provisions  for  the 
destitute  Osages,  while  John  Mathews,  my  old 
friend,  whose  five  children  I  had  raised  in  school, 
raised  an  alarm,  entreating  the  Indians  to  re- 
gard the  provisions  as  poisonous.  This  occur- 
rence alienated  me  from  my  old  friend  Mathews 
and  I  was  obliged  to  spend  eight  months  at  St. 
Mary's  in  Pottawatomie  county.  On  my  return 
to  the  Osage  Mission  in  March,  1862,  the  Osages 
were  much  divided.  Frequent  intercourse  with 
their   vSoutheni    relatives   inceased   our   dangers. 


I9S  iAiiLKR    SCTTOKNMAKERS. 

The  Southern  Osages  accompanied  by  Cherokees, 
invaded  our  Mission  three  times  to  sack  and 
burn  it,  but  being  associated  with  old  pupils  of 
our  school  and  parents  whose  children  were  still 
at  the  r,Lission,  their  counsel  prevailed  in  spar- 
ing us.  and  thereby  their  own  interest.  But  our 
dangers  now  enlarged  on  the  part  of  the  avarice 
and  b'gotry  of  pretended  friends  of  the  Union, 
and  if  Gen.  Chas.  W.  Blair  had  not  been  a  true 
friend  to  the  Mission  it  could  not  have  escaped 
destruction.  Our  friends  Cols.  Thurston,  of 
Humboldt,  and  Brown,  of  Tola,  checked  the  mal'- 
ice  of  some  ill  designing  leader,  but  Gen.  Blair 
had  the  will  and  ])ower  to  save  Southern  Kan- 
sas. Tlie  Osages  during  these  hard  times  visit- 
ed me  by  day  and  by  night.  Should  my  advice  to 
them  have  been  withdrawn.  I  have  reason  to 
believe  that  Osage  City.  Humboldt,  Tola,  Le  Roy, 
Burlington  and  Ottav/a  would  have  been  laid  in 
ashes  bv  the  united  Osages  and  Cherokees.  God 
has  spared  us  all.  And  in  September.  1865, 
whilst  the  Osages  sold  and  transferred  a  part  of 
their  land,  thev  have  made  thousands  of  homes 
for  white  families.  As  the  whites  settled  first 
around  our  Mission,  the  idea  struck  me  of  a 
Mission  town.  Gen.  Blair  was  to  be  renumerat- 
ed.  if  possible,  and  Gov.  George  A.  Crawford 
wrote  me  a  letter  congenial  to  my  plan.  The 
town  took  a  start,  whilst  Sam  Williams  and  Ben 
McDonald  brought  us  a  mill.  Mission  town  be- 
ing, started  and  prosperous  T  withdrew  from 
partnership  from  conscience  sake,  fearing  that 
questions  would  arise  not  in  conformity  with 
God's  law.  and  which  might  blast  all  my  past 
labors.  T  have  been  much  blamed  by  our  new 
cit-?zens  of  Osage  Mission  town  because  T  had 
?iven  the  ruling  influence  to  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  Fort  Scntt ;  but  may  T  not  trust  that  they 


FATHER  SCHOF,NMAivi,K^.  I99 

will  pardon  me  if  they  should  know  what  great 
gratitude  is  due  to  Gen.  C.  W.  Blair.  I  have 
also  been  blamed  for  refusing  other  parties  to 
erect  a  mill  on  Flatrock,  but  my  personal  ac- 
quaintence  with  the  present  mill  company  de- 
manded a  preference.  I  knew  their  capital  and 
energy.  They  have  been  faithful  to  their  prom- 
ises, and  built  the  best  mill  in  Kansas.  Our 
friends  in  Fort  Scott  have  labored  hard  for  our 
railroad  interests  and  today,  while  we  celebrate 
the  event,  our  city  is  being  surveyed  for  the 
opening  of  a  promising  railroad.  The  briars 
and  shrubs  are  cleared,  and  the  field  is  ready 
for  abundant  harvests.  A  library,  hall  and  fe- 
male academy  built  partly  of  cut  stone,  adorns 
our  new  city.  Ten  churches  have  been  erected 
in  this  portion  of  Kansas,  within  one  year,  and 
others  are  under  construction,  whilst  settlers 
from  every  state  in  the  Union  make  homes 
around  them." 

CHARTKRS    ST.    FRANCIs'    INSTITUTION. 

The  Mission  schools  began  to  prosper  again 
before  the  close  of  the  war,  the  average  atten- 
dance being  about  130,  altho  the  Quapaws  had 
withdrawn  their  children.  The  schools  continu- 
ed to  prosper  until  the  Osages  by  the  treaty  of 
September  29,  1865,  ceded  their  land  on  the 
Neosho  to  the  government  and  moved  to  the 
Verdigris.  The  Osages  continued  to  send  their 
children  to  the  Mission  school,  but  not  in  such 
large  numbers  as  before.  The  deficiency,  how- 
ever, was  soon  made  up  by  the  whites  who  were 
settling  in  great  numbers  on  the  land  vacated 
by  the  Indians  near  the  Mission.  The  attend- 
ance of  the  whites  increased  so  rapidly  that  the 
school  was  incorporated  on  May  13,  1870,  under 


200  FATHER  SCHOENMAK^RS. 

the  name  of  St.  Francis'  Institution  for  Boys, 
with  Father  Schoenmakers  as  president  and 
Father  PonzigUone  as  secretary,  in  the  Journal 
May  25,  1870,  this  advertisement  appeared: 

"Osage  Mission,  St.  Francis  Institution  for 
Boys.  This  Mission  established  in  1847,  ^o^  the 
education  of  the  Osages,  is  now  erected  into  an 
educational  establishment  under  the  title  of  'St. 
Francis'  Institution  for  Boys,'  an  1  is  prepared  to 
receive  students.  The  Institution  embraces  all 
the  branches  of  good  English  education,  such 
as  book-keeping,  arithmetic,  algebra,  geometry, 
history,  grammar,  composition  and  penmanship. 
Students  can  be  admitted  at  any  time  of  the  year. 
Payments  must  be  made  quarterly  in  advance. 

"Terms — Entrance  fees,  $5  ;  board  and  tuition, 
per  month,  $15;  washing,  per  annum,  $10:  bed 
and  bedding  per  annum,  $10;  physician's  fees, 
per  annum.  $5. 

"Extra — Music  or  drawing,  at  Professor's 
charge. 

"R]-:v.  John  Schoenmakers,  S.  J..  Superior-!' 

The  number  of  Osages  in  attendance  at  the 
school  gradually  decreased  year  after  year  until 
1881.  when  the  writer  becam^  a  student  at  the 
school,  there  were  less  than  a  dozen  full  blood 
Osage  boys  present.  After  Father  Schoenmak- 
ers' death  they  ceased  attending  the  Mission 
scliool  altogether. 

THE  COURT  OE  LAST  RESORT. 

Father  Schoenmakers  was  a  man  of  medium 
height  and  build  and  rather  quiet  in  his  ways. 
He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  piety  and  goodness 
of  heart  and   far  above  the  ordinary  in  intelli- 


FATHER  SCHOEN MAKERS.  201 

gence.    These  attributes  combined  to  make  him  a 
man  most  fitting  to  be  at  the  head  of  an  institu- 
tion requiring  patience,  perseverance,  tact  and  in- 
telligence.    He  therefore  fitted     well     into     the 
position  he  found  himself  placed  in  at  the  "Mis- 
sion."    His  was  the  guiding  hand  in  all  the  af- 
fairs of  the  community,  the  schools  and  frequent- 
ly of  the  Indians.     He  not  only  did  his  full  part 
of  the  work  himself,  but  he  was  the  "power  be- 
hind the  throne"  directing  the  work  of  his  as- 
sociates.    The  Osages  held   him  in  the  highest 
respect,  as  attested  by  Father  Bax  in  his  letters. 
They  placed  the  utmost  confidence  in  him,  and 
consulted   him,   not  only  in   matters   concerning 
religion    and    the    school,    but    also    concerning 
tribal  affairs.     He  became  a  common  arbiter  of 
difficulties.      When   two   Indians   had   a  dispute 
they  laid  their  case  before  Father  Schoenmak- 
ers,  and  his  decision  was  taken  as  final.     There 
was  no  appealing  to   higher   authority,    for   the 
Osages   at  that   time   recognized  no   higher  au- 
thority.    He  was  also  the  mediator  between  the 
Osages  and  the  government  in  all  their  business 
affairs.     The  government  officers     and     agents 
were  also  free  to  consult  him  in  their  dealings 
with  the  Osages.     Colonel  Sheridan,  brother  of 
General  Phil  Sheridan,  spent  a  number  of  days 
at  the  Mission  once  while  on   business  for  the 
government.     Major  General  W.  "B.  Hazen,  the 
gallant  soldier  who  captured  Ft.  McAllister,  near 
Savannah,    Georgia,    while   with   General    Sher- 
man on  his  famous  march  to  the  sea.  stopped  at 
the  Mission   in  October,   1868,  .to  consult  with 
Father  Schoenmakers  regarding  methods  of  deal- 
ing with  Indians  who  were  causing  troubles  on 
the  frontier. 

^Sometimes    government!   agents    would    come 
here  and  take  Father  Schoenmakers  with  them 


202  FATHER  SCHOENMAKKRS. 

on  their  trip  to  the  Indian  settlements  to  aid  them 
in  dealing  with  the  tribes.  The  good  Father  was 
so  fair  in  his  deahngs  that  he  held  the  friendship 
and  good  will  of  both  parties  and  was  thus  en- 
abled to  do  great  good  for  the  Indians,  the  peo- 
ple and  the  government.  Father  Paul  talis  in  one 
of  his  letters  of  Generals  Ewing  and  Blair  tak- 
ing him  with  them  to  the  Osages  v;hen  they  in- 
vestigated some  comxplaints  made  by  ihe  Osages 
against  the  Indian  agent  in  J^^ly,  1875. 

In  the  Neosho  County  Journal.  July  28,  1875, 
this  appears  : 

"Gen.  Charles  Ewing,  of  Lancastei,  Ohio,  was 
in  town  Saturday.  Gen.  E.  is  a  son  of  old  Tom 
Ewing  and  a  brother  of  Gen.  Tom,  both  of  na- 
tional fame,  and  himself  held  an  important  posi- 
tion during  the  late  war.  He  is  here  now  on  an 
ofificial  visit  to  the  various  Indian  tribes,  under 
appointm.ent  from  President  Grant,  and  will  re- 
turn in  a  few  days  to  proceed  on  his  mission, 
accompanied  by  Father  Schoenmaktrs." 

General  C.  W.  Blair  was  also  a  warm  personal 
friend  of  Fa.ther  Schoenmakers  and  often  con- 
ferred with  him  at  the  Mission.  Gov.  Geo.  A. 
Crawford  was  also  among  those  who  recognized 
the  sterling  worth  as  well  as  the  good  influence 
of  Father  Schoenmakers  and  was  his  warm  per- 
sonal friend.  During  the  days  of  the  "border 
warfare."  Col.  Richard  Hinton.  the  fighter, 
writer  and  historian,  visited  the  Father,  seeking 
information  and  advice. 

Father  Schoenmakers'  influence  for  good  was 
not  onlv  local,  but  also  state  and  national.  He 
was  a  fearless  fighter  for  the  right,  and  this 
fact  did  much  to  widen  his  sphere  of  influence 
am.ong  the  Avhites  as  well  as  the  Indians.  The 
Oc-np-^fs  owe  very  much  of  the  credit  for  their 
present  wealtl^   to  ^  valli.nnt  fig^ht  he  made  for 


fathe:r  scHoKiN  makers.  203 

them  in  1868.  Hon.  T.  b\  Rager,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  at  Osage  Mission,  m  a  speech  made 
at  an  Old  Settlers'  Reunion  at  St.  Paul,  Kansas, 
in  August,  1898,  told  of  this  fight  as  follows: 

"Quiet  and  unassuming,  he  possessed  the  qual- 
ities that  make  the  successful  man,  strict  integ- 
rity and  great  executive  ability,  coupled  with  the 
rare  gift  of  an  even  temper  and  a  pleasant  dis- 
position. These  qualities  made  him  respected 
by  and  popular  with  those  who  were  personally 
acquainted  with  him  and  loved  by  those  who 
knew  him  intimately. 

"With  the  Osages,  among  whom  he  lived  and 
worked  so  many  years  his  word  was  absolute 
verity.  It  follow^ed  that  his  influence  among 
them  was  almost  unlimited.  An  opportunity  to 
wield  this  influence  for  good,  both  to  the  Indian 
and  to  the  people  presented  itself  in  1868,  and 
was  not  lost  by  him.  That  year  what  w^as  known 
as  the  'Sturgis'  treaty  was  effected  with  the 
Osages.  By  the  terms  of  this  treaty  all  of  the 
Osage  diminished  reserve,  a  body  of  land  lying 
west  of  T^aliette  county  in  Kansas,  containing 
eight  million  acres  of  some  of  the  best  land  in 
the  state,  was  conveyed  to  a  railroad  company 
for  nineteen  cents  per  acre. 

*'Soon  after  the  making  of  the  treaty,  a  move- 
ment was  started  to  prevent  its  ratification  by 
the  U.  S.  senate.  This  was  no  easy  task  as  the 
evils  resulting  from  the  granting  of  large  bodies 
of  land  to  corporations  were  not  fully  realized 
by  the  people  and  the  practice  had  many  support- 
ers. Then  came  Father  Sclioenmakers'  oppor- 
tunitv.  He  went  among  the  Osages  and  from 
what  he  said  it  soon  dawned  upon  them  that 
they  had  been  woefully  overreached  in  the  mat- 
ter and  knowincf  that  they  could  trust  him,  they 


204  FATHER   SCHOENMAKERS. 

did  as  be  advised,  sent  in  a  statement  of  the 
facts,  signed  by  the  chiefs  and  head  men,  telling 
how  they  came  to  sign  the  treaty  and  why  it 
should  not  be  ratified  and  protesting  against  its 
ratification. 

"This  coupled  with  the  efforts  of  Sidney 
Clarke,  then  representative,  had  the  desired  ef- 
fect and  the  treaty  was  rejected. 

"Afterwards  they  ceded  all  the  lands  to  the 
U.  v^.  to  be  sold  to  actual  settlers  at  $1.25  per 
acre  and  then  the  settlers  swarmed  in  and  occu- 
pied the  country.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  thru 
the  efforts  of  this  one  man,  thousands  of  people 
obtained  cheap  homes,  and  the  fund  for  the 
Osages,  instead  of  being  about  one  and  a  half 
milhon  dollars,  as  it  would  have  been  had  the 
'Sturgis'  treaty  been  ratified,  was  made  some 
ten  milhon  dollars,  so  that  the  Indian  and  the 
white  men  were  both  blest  in  the  result.  The 
only  one  hurt  or  out  in  the  transaction  was  the 
railroad  company  which  contented  itself  by  down- 
ing Clarke  when  he  came  up  for  nomination  for 
congress." 

ERECTS  SUBSTANTIAL  BUILDINGS. 

The  first  building  of  any  pretentions  erected 
at  the  "Mission/'  was  built  in  1869.  It  was  a 
two-story  frame  building,  afterwards  knows  at 
St.  Francis'  Hall.  The  lower  story  was  first 
used  for  a  library  and  reading  room.  This  was 
the  first  public  library  established  in  Neosho 
county,  and  perhaps  the  first  in  southeastern 
Kansas.  The  second  story  was  used  as  a  hall. 
Later,  this  building  was  used  for  the  parish 
school  for  girls,  and  after  the  college  was  sus- 
pended it  was  used  as  a  local  school  for  boys.    It 


MOTHER  BRIDGET  HAYDEN. 


FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS.  20$ 

now  foniis  part  of  the  barn  used  by  the  Pas- 
sionist  Fathers. 

The  first  one  of  the  big  stone  buildings  was 
begun  in  October,  1871.  It  was  four  stories  high, 
built  of  gray  sandstone  and  for  years  was  re- 
garded a^  the  finest  building  in  southeastern 
Kansas.  It  was  used  as  the  home  of  the  Jesuits, 
the  fourth  story  being  used  as  a  dormitory  for 
the  students  attending  the  school.  This  building 
was  torn  down  in  the  spring  of  1912,  to  make 
room  for  the  present  new  monastery  of  the  Pas- 
sionists. 

The  stone  college  building  was  erected  in  1872, 
and  first  used  in  1873.  Two  stories  and  base- 
ment are  built  of  stone,  the  top  or  fourth  story 
being  mansard.  In  this  building  were  the  class 
rooms  of  St.  Francis'  Institution.  After  the  in- 
stitution was  closed  in  1891,  the  building  remain- 
ed vacant  until  the  burning  of  vSt.  Ann's  Acad- 
emy in  1885,  when  it  became  temporarily  the 
home  of  the  Sisters  of  Loretto.  At  present  it  is 
used  as  a  local  school  building. 

Much  of  the  money  used  for  the  construction 
of  these  two  stone  buildings  was  derived  from 
the  sale  of  lots  in  the  St.  Francis'  Additions  to 
Osage  Mission,  which  were  platted  by  Father 
Schoenmakers  on  land  given  him  by  the  Osages. 

The  first  work  done  on  St.  Francis'  church  was 
in  T871. 

THE   FIRST    POvST MASTER. 

The  close  attention  Father  Schoenmakers  gave 
to  the  schools,  to  church  work  and  to  the  welfare 
of  the  Osages  did  not  deter  him  from  taking  an 
active  part  in  civil  aflFairs  in  the  early  days.  In 
185 T  he  caused  a  postofifice  to  be  established  at 
the  "Catholic   Mission."   as   the   settlement   was 


206  FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS. 

then  called,  and  he  was  appointed  the  first  post- 
master, serving  until  1864.  This  was  the  first 
postoffice  established  in  what  is  now  southeast- 
ern Kansas,  except  the  military  postoffice  at  Ft. 
Scott,  and  was  one  of  the  first  on  Kansas  soil. 
It  was  likewise  the  first,  and  probably  the  only 
one  in  this  region  the  postmaster  of  which  was 
a  Catholic  priest. 

ORGANIZES  A  TOWN   COMPANY. 

The  Osages,  in  their  treaty  of  1865,  provided 
that  the  government  should  deed  to  Father 
Schoenmakers  a  large  tract  of  land  surrounding 
the  Mission,  as  a  mark  of  appreciation  of  the 
many  favors  they  had  received  from  him.  Father 
Schoenmakers,  in  turn,  deeded  to  the  Sisters  of 
Loretto  the  big  farm  which  they  still  own.  One 
section  of  the  land  he  set  aside  for  a  town  and 
on  it  the  town  of  St.  Paul  now  stands.  In  De- 
cember, 1867,  he  formed  the  town  company  com- 
posed of  himself.  Gen.  W.  C.  Blair,  Gov.  Geo. 
A.  Crawford,  S.  A.  Williams,  Benjamin  Mc- 
Donald, and  John  Naudier  and  established  the 
town  of  Osage  Mission.  He  deeded  to  this 
company  the  plot  of  ground  which  comprised  the 
original  town  of  Osage  Mission.  When  the  town 
was  well  started  he  withdrew  from  the  company, 
desiring  to  devote  his  time  more  closely  to  his 
school  and  his  religious  work. 

SELDOM  TN  COURT. 

In  addition  to  this  land  Father  Schoenmakers 
handled  much  property  for  the  school,  the  Jesuit 
institution  and  for  others,  especially  minors,  who 
had  entrusted  their  property  to  his  care.  Not- 
withstanding this,   he   seldom  had  trouble  with 


FATHER  SCHOEN MAKERS.  207 

Others  that  necessitated  resorting  to  court  meth- 
ods of  adjustment.  From  Judge  L.  Stillwell,  of 
Erie,  Kansas,  who  was  one  of  the  e^rly  attorneys 
at  Osage  Mission,  the  following  information  was 
obtained : 

"Father  Ponziglione  never  brought  any  suit 
in  the  District  Court  of  this  county.  Father 
Schoenmakers  brought  five,  but  none  of  them 
were  actions  that  involved  any  of  his  own  per- 
sonal matters.  Four  of  them  were  brought  by 
him  a?  'Trustee  for  the  Society  Sustaining  the 
Catholic  ]\Iission.'  Three  of  these  last  named 
actions  were  against  different  county  officers  of 
this  county,  and  involved  the  question  of  the 
taxability  of  certain  property,  both  real  and 
personal,  owned  by  the  Father  as  trustee,  as 
aforesaid.  He  contended  thDt  the  property  in 
question  was  used  exclusively  for  'educational, 
religious  and  charitable'  purposes  and  hence  was 
exempt  from  taxation  under  Sec.  i,  Art.  II,  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Kansas.  Up  to 
the  time  he  brought  these  actions  (which  was 
at  different  times  in  1869  and  1870),  our  Su- 
preme Court  had  not  had  occasion  to  construe 
the  foregoing  clause  of  the  Constitution,  or  de- 
termine its  extent,  (nor  did  it  until  some  years 
later,)  so  the  Father's  contention  was  then  an 
'open  question.'  Two  of  the  cases  were  dismiss- 
ed, on  motion  of  the  plaintiff,  but  the  most  im- 
portant one  was  tried  before  Judge  Goodin  in 
July,  1 87 1,  and  he  decided  in  favor  of  Father 
Schoenmakers.  In  1877,  o^  thereabouts,  the 
case  got  into  the  Supreme  Court,  in  regard  only 
to  a  certain  feature  of  the  judgment.  As  you 
may  see  from  the  opinion  of  the  Court,  it  upheld 
the  decree  of  Judge  Goodin  only  as  to  the  taxes 
for  the  one  year,  those  of  1868.    But  in  the  mean- 


208  FATHER   SCIIOENMAKERS. 

time  the  Court  had  considered  in  other  cases, 
the  questions  involved  in  this  Utigation  of  the 
Father's,  and  their  decision  were  adverse  to  his 
position,  so  he  brought  no  further  actions  of 
that  character. 

"As  regards  the  other  action  brought  by  Father 
Schoenmakers  in  his  official  capacity,  the  court, 
records  show  that  it  was  against  the  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas  Railroad  Company.  The 
clerk,  after  deligent  search,  was  unable  to  find 
the  papers  in  the  case,  and  there  is  no  other  rec- 
ord in  his  office  showing  what  the  suit  was  about. 
It  was  probably  in  regard  to  the  title  of  some  of 
the  land  held  by  Father  Schoenmakers  as  trus- 
tee, as  aforesaid.  The  records  show  that  he  dis- 
missed it.     It  perhaps  was  amicably  settled. 

"The  last  case  brought  by  the  Father  was  'as 
assignee  of  Jacob  Funk'  against  B.  W.  Lenient 
and  vS.  S.  Lenient,  for  v$350,  which  he  also  dis- 
missed.    It  doubtless  was  settled. 

"I  was  not  counsel  in  any  of  the  foregoing 
cases,  but  was  familiar  with  all  of  them  at  the 
time,  except  the  last  one.  I  heard  the  arguments 
made  therein,  and  they  were  interesting  and 
able.  Among  the  attorneys  who  appeared  on  one 
side  or  the  other  of  these  various  suits  were 
Orein  Thurston  and  I.  B.  F.  Cates,  both  of  Hum- 
boldt, and  C.  F.  Hutchings,  lohn  O'Grady,  T. 
C.  Cory.  T.  F.  Rager,  W.  S.  Carroll  and  John 
Moffitt.  all  of  Osage  Mission. 

"L.  Stillwell." 

The  Chanute  Sun,  October  12,^  1904,  published 
some  early  reminiscences  regarding  court  aflFairs 
in  Neosho  county  from  which  the  following  is 
taken : 

"The  case  of   Schoenmakers  vs.   M.   Barnes, 


FATHER  SCIIOEN MAKERS.  209 

sheriff,  was  an  injunction  suit  against  the  county 
sheriff  who  had  been  ordered  to  sell  the  plain- 
tiff's chattels  and  personal  property  to  satisfy  a 
county  bill  against  him  for  taxes.  The  plamtiflF 
was  one  of  the  many  teachers  of  the  Osage  Mis- 
sion Society  and  he  alleged  that  the  property  on 
which  tlie  levy  was  about  to  be  made  belonged 
to  the  society 'which  was  only  supported  by  the 
charities  of  the  public,  and  whose  workmen  and 
teachers  educated  the  Indians  for  no  compensa- 
tion whatever,  except  their  board  and  lodging- 
Within  the  next  few  days  after  securing  the  m- 
junction  the  poor  teacher  reconsidered,  paid  the 
taxes  and  the  case  was  dropped  from  the  court. 


Rt 


vTIRES   FROM    ACTIVE  DUTIES. 


h'a^her  Schoenmakers  continued  his  active  life 
until  he  had  almost  reached  the  alloted  span  of 
life,  of  "liiree  score  years  and  ten."  He  was 
relieved  of  the  position  of  superior  of  St.  Fran- 
cis' Institution.  July  5,  1876,  but  even  until  his 
death  he  always  held  an  advisory  position.  Ihe 
Jounial,  on  July  12,  1876,  gives  this  account  of 
his  retirement: 

''An  e^x^nt  of  much  local  importance  is  the 
voluntary  retirement  of  Rev.  Fr.  John  Schoen- 
makers  'from  the  position  of  superior  of  bt. 
Francis  Institution  here,  which  he  has  hekl  for 
the  pa-4  ^.o  years.  His  increasing  years  and 
manifold  ^cares  had  led  him  to  frequently  solicit 
his  superiors  for  a  change  here,  and  that  he  be 
permitterl  to  cease  the  arduous  labors  incumbent 
upon  the  head  of  the  order.  This  has  been  re- 
fused until  now-^but  at  last  consent  was  given 
and  on  Thursday  of  last  week  (July  5.  ^^7^) 
Fev    Adrain  Sweere,  S.  I.,  from  Chicago,  arriv- 


210  FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS. 

ed  here  as  the  duly  accredited  successor  to  Fr. 
Schoeniiiakers. 

"We  will  add  that  the  latter  remains  here  to 
assist  by  his  counsel,  which  from  his  long  and 
successful  management,  is  indispensible ;  and  that 
he  will  continue  to  receive  the  respect  and  good 
will  of  all  our  people  irrespective  of  creed  or 
political  faith." 

FIFTY    YEARS    A    PRIEST. 

Father  Schoenmakers  was  a  very  quiet  man 
and  disliked  publicity.  He  was  letting  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  his  ordination  as  a  priest  pass  by 
when  a  lot  of  his  friends,  Catholic  and  non-Cath- 
olic alike  called  on  him  and  provided  the  program 
for  the  celebration.  From  the  Neosho  County 
Journal,  of  April  i8,  1883,  the  following  is 
taken : 

"During  the  past  week  a  number  of  our  citi- 
zens had  been  quietly  at  work  preparing  to  give 
good  old  Father  Schoenmakers  a  genuine  'sur- 
prise party/  on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his 
ordination  as  a  priest,  and  as  an  expression  of 
the  affection  and  good  will  they,  in  common  with 
all,  have  for  him  as  an  unselfish  Christian  whose 
life  has  been  passed  in  doing  good  to  others. 

"At  an  early  hour  Monday  evening  a  large 
number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  assembled  at 
the  comer  of  Main  and  County  streets  and  pre- 
ceded by  the  Osage  Mission  Cornet  Band,  wend- 
ed their  way  by  the  light  of  the  moon  to  the 
residence  of  the  Mission  Fathers;  where,  sta- 
tioning themselves  in  close  proximity,  the  pro- 
ceedings opened  by  the  rendition  of  some  fine 
music  by  the  band,  in  a  style  highly  creditable 
to  them.     During  this  prelude.  Father  Schoen- 


FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS.  211 

makers  was  brought  out  on  the  balcony,  ac- 
companied by  several  of  his  confreres  of  the 
order,  and  was  thereupon  presented  by  Hon.  C. 
F.  Hutchings,  on  behalf  of  the  donors,  with  a 
fine  carpet  and  an  elegant  easy  rocking  chair, 
with  various  other  articles  of  comfort.  Mr. 
Hutchings  in  performing  this  pleasing  duty  made 
the  following  graceful  and  eloquent  presentation 
address : 

'*  'Father  Schoenmakers : 

"  'Upon  this  occasion  of  the  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary of  the  day  upon  which  you  first  celebrated 
the  sacred  service  of  the  Mass,  your  friends  and 
neighbors  have  assembled  here  to  express  to  you 
their  sincere  friendship  and  affection,  and  to 
ask  you  to  accept  at  their  hands  these  simple 
testimonials  of  their  esteem.  Our  words,  Father, 
are  not  the  idle  compliments  which  escape  from 
the  lips  of  those  who  would  flatter  and  please 
the  vanity  of  one  engaged  in  pursuing  the  de- 
ceitful allurements  of  worldly  wealth  or  fame, 
but  are  the  sentiments  which  effervesce  from  the 
hearts  of  friends,  as  an  offering  to  one  whose 
mind  and  heart  long  ago  purged  of  the  false  and 
illusory  ambitions  of  the  world,  for  more  than 
half  a  century  has  devoted  a  noble  life  of  self- 
sacrifice  to  the  promotion  of  works  of  religion 
and  charity,  and  to  the  amelioration  of  the  un- 
happy condition,  and  the  spiritual  regeneration 
and  well  being,  of  the  lowliest  and  most  humble 
of  his  fellow  men.  The  precious  seeds  of  reli- 
gion, charity  and  virtue  which  during  your  long 
ministration  you  have,  with  liberal  and  unweary- 
ing hand,  sown  along  the  pathway  of  your  event- 
ful life,  have  sprung  up  and  developed,  as  it 
were,  into  beautiful  and  stately  trees,  that,  rich 
with  their  shining  fruit,  mark  your  loilsome 
course  of  half  a  hundred  vears.  and  indicate  to 


212  FATHER  SCHO^NMAKERS. 

the  living  and  to  thousands  that  shall  come  af- 
ter us  the  way  by  which  they  may  achieve  liit 
highest  aims  of  good  and  noble  lives. 

''  'In  these  serene  and  peaceful  autumn  days 
of  your  life,  as  you  behold  the  golden  fruits  of 
your  life's  work,  when  you  take  a  retrospective 
view  of  your  labors,  and  recur  to  the  day  now 
more  than  thirty-six  years  ago,  when  in  the 
solitude  of  a  primitive  world,  surrounded  only 
by  wild  and  inhospitable  people,  you  planted 
here  the  tiny  seed,  vv^hich,  tended  and  nourished 
by  your  constant  love,  has  germinated  and 
grown  until  it  has  broken  into  the  fragrant 
bloom  of  these  noble  institutions  of  learning 
that  surround  us,  this  grand  sanctuary  now  near- 
ing  completion,  and  in  which  shall  be  nurtured 
the  religious  and  spiritual  lives  of  generations 
yet  to  come,  how  approvingly  must  your  con- 
science speak  to  you  and  smile  upon  your  past 
career. 

"  *We  have  interrupted  your  quiet  meditations 
to  tender  to  you  these  simple  offerings,  and  as- 
sure you  of  our  friendship  and  gratitude,  and  in 
parting  we  wish  you  many  happy  returns  of  this 
day,  upon  this  spot  where  so  many  years  ago 
you  braved  the  hardships,  the  privations,  the 
dangers  and  the  solitude  of  the  desert  and  the 
wilderness,  to  sacrifice  your  life  in  the  effort  to 
redeem  a  wild  and  savage  race,  may  your  days 
long  henceforth  lengthened  out,  at  last  end  in 
peace  among  us.  your  constant  friends,  surround- 
ed by  the  noble  monuments  of  learning  and  re- 
ligion which  your  piety  and  unselfish  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  humanity  have  here  erected.' 

''Father  vSchoenmakers,  tho  oast  his  75  years, 
arose  and  responded  in  a  voice  heard  by  all. 
He  said : 

*"My  Friends:     T  am  indeed  deeply  grateful 


^ATH^R  SCHOEN MAKERS.  213 

for  your  kindness  and  consideration.  Thirty- 
six  years  ago,  when  1  first  settled  here  among 
the  Indians,  Httle  did  I  think  that  civilization 
would  ever  reach  me,  and  that  1  should  be 
spared  to  celebrate  my  jubilee  among  so  many 
highly  cultivated  Christian  friends.  You  have 
been  very  kiiul  to  me,  and  i  have  received  many 
letters  of  congratulation,  and  many  have  called 
upon  me  during  the  day.  1  thank  you  for  your 
kindly  expressions  towards  me,  and  your  con- 
sideration for  my  comfort  in  the  elegant  pres- 
ents you  have  brought  me  and  I  invoke  a  bless- 
ing upon  each  and  every  one  of  you.  Good 
night.'  " 

HIS  LAST  DAYS. 

Father  Schoenmakers  led  a  retired  life  after 
he  relinquished  his  duties  as  superior.  He  sel- 
dom appeared  in  public,  save  only  to  say  Mass, 
or  to  preach  an  occasional  sermon  in  the  old 
leg  church,  or  to  visit  the  boys  at  the  school. 
HK)wever,  in  his  retirement  he  did  not  lose  in- 
terest in  St.  Francis'  church  which  he  had  helped 
to  plan  and  get  under  way,  and  which  he  hoped 
to  see  completed  during  his  life.  Thru  the  in- 
fluence of  relatives  and  friends  he  obtained  sums 
of  money  from  Europe  which  were  spent  in 
erecting  this  church  which,  as  he  viewed  it,  was 
to  become  the  i)ride  of  Southern  Kansas.  He 
encouraged  Fatlier  Ponziglione  to  greater  en- 
deavors to  hasten  the  completion  of  the  edifice 
that  he  might  be  present  at  its  dedication,  but  as 
the  finishing  touches  were  being  put  to  the  stone 
walls,  his  health  began  to  fail  rapidly  and  it  soon 
became  apparent  that  his  desire  to  see  the  church 
completed  was  not  to  be  gratified.  His  last  mo- 
ments on  earth  are  thus  described  bv  C.  H.  How- 


214  r.ViriER    SCHOjE:N MAKERS. 

ard   in  the   Neosho  County  Journal,  August  3, 
1883: 

"Altho  for  some  months  our  community  had 
known  that  that  venerable  and  beloved  man, 
Father  John  Schoenmakers,  was  in  poor  health, 
and  lately  had  been  perceptibly  failing,  no  one 
seemed  to  realize  that  the  end  was  so  near.  But 
on  Saturday  last  he  grew  so  much  more  feeble, 
and  seemed  so  weak  and  wan,  that  his  attend- 
ants knew  that  the  last  scenes  of  his  life  were 
drawing  to  a  close, — and  during  the  long,  and  to 
them  agonizing  day,  they  watched  and  minister- 
ed to  him  as  best  they  could,  while  the  Angel 
of  Death  came  down  with  noisless  wing  and 
stood  by  their  side  to  receive  his  parting  spirit 
as  it  should  leave  its  poor  mortality. 

**In  the  afternoon  he  seemed  to  suffer  much, 
but  later  became  easier,  and  his  loving  and  ever 
faithful  coadjutor,  Father  Ponziglione,  seeing 
his  lips  move,  bent  over  his  almost  inanimate 
form  and  cai^ght  the  w^hispered  invocation  of 
the  dying  man:  'In  Thee,  Oh  Lord,  I  hoped, 
and  I  will  not  be  confounded  forever.'  And  at 
4:30  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  soul  of  the  good  Father 
passed  forever  away  from  its  earthly  tenement 
to  an  eternal  reward.  July  28,   1883. 

"The  remains  were  placed  in  a  casket  and 
removed  to  the  church  Saturday  evening,  where 
they  were  viewed  by  great  numbers  of  people. 
On  Sunday  at  4  o'clock  p.  m..  the  funeral  ser- 
vices were  held  at  the  church,  at  which  an  im- 
mense assemblage  had  congregated — variously 
estimated  at  from  2.5(X)  to  3,000  people — a  large 
portion  of  whom  could  not  gain  admittance  to 
the  building.  (A  special  train  brought  a  large 
delegation  of  people  from  Parsons.)  Father 
Ponziglione  delivered     the     funeral     discourse. 


FATHliR   SCHOEN MAKERS.  215 

which  was  a  most  eloquent  and  feeUng  tribute 
to  the  intellectual,  moral  and  social  excellencies 
of  the  dead  Father,  with  whom  he  had  been  so 
closely  associated  for  thirty-two  years.  Father 
Ponziglione's  earnestness  of  manner  and  great 
emotion  gave  evidence  of  the  depth  of  his  feeln 
iiigs,  and  carried  the  hearts  of  his  audience  with 
him  as  he  rapidly  sketched  the  unselfish  nature 
of  the  lamented  dead  before  them.  After  the 
ceremony  the  remains  were  escorted  to  the 
Catholic  cemetery,  followed  by  a  procession  half 
a  mile  in  length.  Here  at  the  grave  the  short 
but  impressive  burial  service  was  performed  by 
Father  Ponziglione,  the  casket  was  lowered  and 
the  earth  was  placed  over  all  that  was  mortal 
of  the  venerable  and  venerated  priest,  known 
and  beloved  by  all.  A  solemn  dirge  was  played 
by  the  Osage  Ivlission  Cornet  Band,  assisted  by 
the  Coeur  de  Leon  band  from  Parsons,  during 
these  last  sad  ceremonies.  At  the  close,  the  grave 
was  nearly  covered  with  beautiful  tributes  plac- 
ed by  the  hands  of  women  and  children,  and 
others  who  thus  testified  their  love  for  their  de- 
parted counsellor  and   friend. 

"Thus  has  left  us,  in  the  hope  and  assurance 
of  a  blessed  immortality,  a  man  singularly  free 
from  selfish  feelings,  whose  life  had  been  spent 
in  seeking  to  do  good  to  others  at  the  expense 
of  his  own  great  labor  and  discomfort;  who 
knew  no  enemy,  as  he  was  everybody's  friend, 
and  spiritual  as  well  as  temporal  counsellor, — 
and  who  lived  and  passed  to  the  grave  at  the 
age  of  three  score  and  sixteen  years,  loved,  re- 
spected, and  everywhere  honored  by  all  classes 
and  conditions  of  society;  the  rich,  the  poor; 
the  humble  and  the  exalted;  by  Catholic  and 
Protestant  alike,  each  and  all  uniting  to  render 
full  tribute  to  the  worth  and  memory  of  the  kind 


2l6  FATHER  SCHOEN MAKERS. 

friend,  and  untiring  worker  for  the  good  of 
others." 

The  last  official  act  of  Father  Schoenmakers 
appearing  on  the  records  of  St.  Francis'  church 
was  the  baptisim  of  Anna  or  Ivlarriam  .\gnes 
Oswell,  an  orphan  girl,  in  March,  1883. 

The  early  settlers  in  this  section  owe  much 
to  this  great  tho  unassuming  man.  The  hospi- 
tality of  his  home  was  open  to  every  stranger 
who  wandered  this  way.  and  the  settlers  were 
■given  aid  in  innumerable  ways.  He  taught  the 
Indians  to  treat  the  wdiites  as  their  brothers  and 
to  assist  them  in  their  needs.  Thus  he  made 
friends  of  those  who  otherwise  might  have  been 
hostile  enem.ies,  as  they  were  in  other  localities. 
He  also  taught  the  Indians  how  to  provide  for 
their  own  wants,  and  to  properly  regard  the 
rights  of  the  individual.  The  fruits  of  his  ef- 
forts in  this  respect  are  evident  to-day  for  the 
Osages,  besides  being  one  of  the  most  peaceful 
tribes,  are  the  wealthiest  Indians  in  America. 
Many  of  them  are  well  educated  and  have  bright 
and  happy  homes. 

Kind  and  generous,  he  was  more  solicitous 
for  the  welfare  of  others  and  of  those  under  his 
charge  than  for  himself.  It  was  but  natural  that 
every  one,  irrespective  of  creed,  was  his  friend. 

Father  Schoenmakers'  remains  rest  in  the 
IMission  cemetery,  the  site  he  sekcttrl  for  the 
deceased  members  of  his  flock.  A  modest  mar- 
ble slab  marks  the  location  of  his  grave,  but  it  is 
a  spot  that  is  not  forgotten  or  neglected.  Altho 
many  years  have  passed  since  his  demise,  ad- 
mirinjDf  friends  frequently  visit  his  grave,  there 
to  offer  up  fervent  and  earnest  prayers  tmplor- 
inti'  intercession  for  tliore  le^^  b  'h^'nd. 


FATHER  SCHOKN MAKERS.  217 

A  MAN   OF  GREAT   MODESTY. 

The  dislike  of  Father  Schoenmakers  for  no- 
toriety or  publicity  is  illustrated  by  this  sketch 
written  by  C.  li.  Howard  in  August,  1883 : 

"Father  Ponziglione  showed  us  last  Saturday 
a  photograph  of  Father  vSchoenmakers  from  a 
negative  taken  after  death,  which  was  as  good 
a  likeness  as  could  be  expected  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. Father  Schoenmakers  would  never 
consent  to  sit  for  a  likeness ;  but  some  years  ago 
by  strategy  a  fairly  good  negative  was  taken 
when  the  Father  was  not  aware  of  what  was 
being  done.  These  two  photographs  will  be 
sent  to  an  eminent  artist  in  New  York  in  order 
to  get  from  them,  thru  his  skill,  a  good  likeness 
of  Father  Schoenmakers  as  he  appeared  in  life. 
If  successful,  some  thousands  of  these  will  be 
printed  and  offered  for  sale  at  the  Catholic  fair 
which  will  be  held  here  during  the  coming  fall." 

A    MAN   OF   COURAGE. 

C.  H.  Howard,  for  many  years  postmaster  at 
the  Mission,  and  also  editor  of  the  Neosho  Coun- 
ty Journal  wrote  this  for  his  paper  August  22, 

"In  conversation  a  few  days  since  with  Mrs. 
Naudier,  she  mentioned  one  circumstance  that 
fell  beneath  her  own  observation,  so  well  illus- 
trative of  Father  Schoenmakers'  zeal  and  dis- 
regard of  personal  danger,  that  we  noted  it  down 
for  the  benefit  of  our  readers.  During  the  civil 
war,  a  band  of  probably  two  hundred  Osage 
warriors  were  camped  in  the  south  part  of  town, 
as  this  place  vras  their  home  at  that  date.  These 
warriors  were  in  the  service  of  the  government, 
and  had  just  returned  from  an  expedition  into 


2l8  FATHER   SCHOEN MAKERS. 

Missouri,  bringing  with  them  some  scalps  ob- 
tained from  enemies  who  had  fallen  in  battle. 
At  the  time  mentioned  this  band  of  warriors  was 
having  a  scalp  dance,  and  in  the  midst  of  their 
ogeries  word  came  to  Father  Schoenmakers  that 
it  was  the  intention  of  the  Osages  to  place  staffs 
decorated  with  scalps  on  the  graves  in  the  Catho- 
lic cemeter3^  Hastily  repairing  to  the  Osage 
camp,  accompanied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Naudier 
and  perhaps  others,  Father  Schoenmakers  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  warriors  frenzied  with  the 
savage  excitement  of  the  scalp  dance,  told  them 
that  they  'must  not  and  could  not  place  a  single 
scalp  upon  a  grave  in  the  cemetery,'  and  bravely 
and  firmly  reiterated  the  declaration  while  toma- 
hawks were  brandished  about  in  the  hands  of 
the  thoroly  infuriated  Indians  greatly  incensed 
at  this  interference  of  the  white  man.  Mrs. 
Naudier  says  that  for  some  time  Father  Schoen- 
makers' friends  momentarily  expected  to  see  him 
ruthlessly  slain  and  to  their  expressions  of  alarm 
he  simply  answered  that  fears  of  death  could 
not  deter  him  from  the  performance  of  this 
Christian  duty.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  brave 
and  determined,  yet  calm  demeanor  and  words 
of  Father  v^choen makers  conquored  by  mere 
moral  force  the  infuriated  passion  of  the  Osages, 
and  no  scalp  desecrated  the  graves  as  had  been 
determined." 

HIS   INTRODUCTIOX   TO  THE   OSAGES. 

An  incident  of  Father  Schoenmakers'  intro- 
duction to  the  Osages  on  his  first  visit  to  the 
Neosho  is  told  by  M..  F.  Cassidy  of  Independ- 
ence, Kansas,  who  came  to  Kansas  in  1869, 
and  heard  the  Father  relate  the  story  himself,  as 
follows : 


FATHER  SCHOENMAKERS.  219 

"Father  Schoenmakers  had  employed  a  Pot- 
tawatomie Indian  to  act  as  guide  for  him.  They 
arrived  on  the  banks  of  the  Neosho  river  in  the 
evening.  They  prepared  a  haisty  supper  and 
when  it  was  partaken  of,  the  guide  at  once  left 
the  good  Father  all  alone,  nor  did  he  return  un- 
til daylight  the  next  morning.  The  Indian  then 
pointed  out  where  the  Indian  town  could  be 
found  and  at  once  demanded  his  pay,  explaining 
that  if  caught  by  the  O sages  he  would  lose  his 
life  as  well  as  his  scalp.  Father  Schoenmakers 
therefore  paid  his  dusky  guide,  and  taking  his 
little  camp  equipment  ventured  into  the  Indian 
village." 

Mr.  Cassidy  also  tells  this  incident  which  oc- 
curred shortly  after  Father  Schoenmakers  took 
up  his  permanent  abode  at  "the  Mission" : 

''Father  Schoenmakers  brought  with  him  a 
cow ;  also  a  bell  and  a  strap  to  attach  to  the 
cow's  neck  that  she  might  be  more  readily  found. 
The  first  day  the  cow  was  turned  out  she  came 
home  minus  the  bell  and  strap,  but  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning  a  big  Osage  appeared  with  the 
bell  in  his  hand  but  minus  the  strap,  remark- 
ing, 'I  have  found  your  bell.  What  will  you 
give  me  for  it?  Give  me  ncnihoe  (tobacco).' 
This  was  kept  up  for  some  time,  the  cow  com- 
in,g  home  without  the  bell  and.  'Father  I  have 
found  your  belli  give  me  nenihoe:'  The  good 
Father  put  his  wits  to  work,  got  a  chain  and 
rivited  it  around  the  cow's  neck,  and  thereafter 
there  was  no  more  nenihoe  paid  for  the  lost  bell." 

A  LETTER  TO  THE  BIG  CHIEF. 

Osage  Mission,  Kansas,  Mky  29,  1876. 

Big  Chief/Dear  Friend:    Your  brother.  Peter 

Watzaitan,  left  our  school  at  Osasre  Mission  in 


220  FATHER   SCHOKNMAKERS. 

the  beginning  of  1862,  to  join  the  Union  army. 
After  being  drilled  to  the  use  of  arms,  he  ob- 
tained a  furlough  to  visit  his  relations  as  the 
reward  of  his  faithful  services.  His  first  visit 
was  turned  to  his  beloved  home,  the  school  at 
Osage  Mission,  where  he  spent  three  .delightful 
days.  At  the  end  of  his  furlough  he  promptly 
returned  to  the  army  and  showed  a  bravery  un- 
surpassed. 

However,  aware  of  his  surrounding  dangers, 
he  often  thought  of  the  happy  hours  he  had  en- 
joyed at  school:  he  therefore  sent  me  his  like- 
ness to  be  mindful  of  him  in  case  death  should 
overtake  him.  As  no  one  has  a  better  title  to  his 
likeness  than  his  brother,  the  Chief  of  Sanzo- 
genie  town.  I  gladly  send  it  to  you. 

Very  respectfully  yours. 

John  Schoenmakers,  S.  J. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

FATHER   JOHN    BAX, 

"Some  men  are  born,  ordained  from  earliest  days, 
In  our  own  eyes,  His  servants.  On  their  brows 
We  see  His  work  of  Sanctity  impressed 
So  broad  and  deep,  that  foreordained  they  walk, 
From  childhood  untU  death,  His  holy  will 
Performing,  by  right,  from  day  to  day." 

—Walter  J.  Blakbly. 

Father  John  Bax,  S.  J.,  was  the  companion  of 
Father  Schoenmakers  on  his  trip  from  St.  Louis 
to  the  Osages,  and  his  co-worker  at  the  "Mis- 
sion" until  his  death  in  1852.  He  was  born  in 
Belgium,  January  15,  1817,  and  joined  the  Jesu- 
its November  12,  1840.  Prior  to  coming  to  the 
Osages,  he  had  been  stationed  at  Florissant  and 
other  points  near  St.  Louis,  but  being  a  young 
man  he  had  not  been  assigned  any  very  arduous 
duties. 

At  the  Mission  Father  Bax  was  given  active 
charge  of  the  church  work  while  Father  Schoen- 
makers devoted  most  of  his  time  to  the  schools. 
The  records  of  ?t.  Francis'  church  show  that 
Father  Bax  was  a  most  active  worker. 

During  1847,  Seventy-nine  Osages  were  bap- 
tised, most  of  them  by  Father  Bax.  He  visited 
the  tribes  at  their  various  towns  both  on  the  Neo- 
sho and  the  Verdigris,  doing  much  the  same  kind 
of  work  Father  Paul  did  later.  In  his  records  he 
speaks  of  visits  at  Whitehair's  town  over  the 
river,  Little  town  of  the  Little  Osages,  and  of 
(221) 


2.22  FATHER    BAX. 

being  on  the  line  near  the  Fort.     This  was  in 

1847.  in  1848  he  speaks  of  being  at  Marmonta 
near  the  Little  Osage  river,  Sanza  Ougrin  town. 
Big  Little  Osage  village,  Owlstown,  Gremand 
town,  and  the  village  three  miles  southwest. 

In  June,  1848,  Father  Bax  made  a  trip  to  south- 
west Missouri,  making  visits  at  Diamond  Grove, 
Shoal  creek,  Sarcoxie,  the  Osage  Fork  of  the 
Gasconade  river,  on  the  Niangua  in  Wright  coun- 
ty, Harmony  Mission,  and  on  the  Marmaton  in 
Bates  county.  He  was  absent  about  a  month. 
He  made  another  trip  in  Octobci  and  November, 

1848,  over  much  the  same  route.  In  1850  he 
went  as  far  to  the  northeast  at  Calhoun  in  Henry 
county,  }>Iissouri. 

The  Mission  records  show  210  baptisms  were 
performed  during  185 1,  most  of  them  by  Father 
Bax. 

The  story  of  his  work  among  the  Osages  is 
best  told  in  his  own  letters  and  in  the  letter  of 
Father  DeSmet,  which  follow  this  article. 

Father  Bax  died  August  5,  1852,  and  was  the 
first  to  be  buried  in  that  part  of  the  cemetery 
near  the  "Mission"  which  Father  vSchoenmakers 
had  selected  for  the  last  resting  place  of  the  de- 
ceased members  of  his  household. 

Some  interesting  letters  written  by  Father 
Bax  follow : 

FATHER   BAX'S   FIRST  LETTER  TO   FATHER  DE   SMET. 

Mission  of  St.  Francis  Hieronymo, 
Among  the  Osages.  June  i.   1850. 
fvev.  and  \^ery  Dear  Father : 

Already  three  years  have  elapsed  since  we 
commenced  the  toils  of  our  Mission.  I  will  say 
nothing  to  you  of  the  embarrassments  inseparable 
from   such  an  enterprise ;  vou  are  too  well  ac- 


FATHER    BAX.  223 

quainted  with  this  ground,  aud  are  aware,  also, 
that  to  prepare  for  its  cultivation  exacts 
the  courage  that  Christian  charity  alone  can 
inspire.  I  will  not,  therefore,  stop  to  relate  the 
obstacles,  the  fatigues  of  every  sort,  that  we  en- 
countered in  our  route.  At  present  the  burden 
is  alleviated  i  particularly  since  the  arrival  of  a 
teacher  and  of  a  Brother,  the  affairs  of  the  Mis- 
sion are  extending,  and  wear  a  much  more  favor- 
able aspect. 

I  profit  by  my  earliest  leisure  moments,  to  sat- 
isfy the  desire  that  you  have  several  times  testi- 
fied to  me,  of  having  some  details  concerning  our 
dear  Mission  of  the  Osages.  I  hope,  in  this  way, 
to  offer  you  a  slight  testimony  of  our  ,gratitude 
for  the  interest  you  take  in  our  labors  and  in  our 
success.  These  marks  of  attention,  on  your  part, 
Reverend  Father,  give  us  the  assurance  that,  if 
momentarily  you  remain  remote  from  your  dear 
Indians,  your  heart  nevertheless  sighs  continuous- 
ly towards  our  poor  and  isokted  chil-iren  of  the 
v/ild  solitude. 

You  are  aware,  that  this  Mission  was,  during 
several  years,  in  the  hands  of  the  Presbyterians. 
They  were  obliged  to  abandon  it  in  1845.  Those 
gentlemen  were  forced  to  come  to  this  resolution 
by  the  Indians  themselves,  who  were  fully  de- 
termined never  to  adopt  the  doctrine  of  Calvin. 
In  the  course  of  the  same  year.  Major  Harvey, 
isuperintendent  of  the  Indian  tribes,  having  as- 
sembled in.  Council  the  diflferent  tribes  of  the 
Osage  nation,  exposed  to  them,  in  the  liveliest 
colors,  the  advantages  of  a  good  education ;  he 
added,  that  if  such  should  prove  their  will,  their 
Great  Father  (The  President)  would  send  them 
missionaries  to  instruct  their  children.  At  this 
proposition,  the  Great  Chici  replied  in  the  name 
of  the  Council : 


224  fATHlSR    BAX. 

"Our  Great  Father  is  very  kind;  he  loves  his 
red-skinned  children.  Hear  what  we  have  to  say 
on  this  subject:  We  do  not  wish  any  more  such 
missionaries  as  we  have  had  during  several 
years;  for  they  never  did  us  any  good.  Send 
them  to  the  whites;  perhaps  they  may  succeed 
better  with  them.  If  our  Great  Father  desires 
that  we  have  missionaries,  you  will  tell  him  to 
send  us  Black-gowns,  who  will  teach  us  to  pray 
to  the  Great  Spirit  in  the  French  manner.  Al- 
tho  several  years  have  elapsed  since  they  have 
visited  us,  we  always  remember  the  visit  with 
gratitude ;  and  we  shall  be  ever  ready  to  receive 
them  among  us,  and  to  listen  to  their  preaching." 

The  superintendent,  a  just  and  liberal  man, 
wished  only  the  welfare  of  the  Indians.  Altho 
a  Protestant,  he  communicated  this  reply  to 
the  Government,  and  supported  and  confirmed 
it  with  his  own  remarks  and  observations.  In 
pursuance  with  his  advice,  the  President  had  re- 
course to  the  Superiors  of  our  Society,  request- 
ing them  to  assume  the  charge  of  this  Mission. 

At  first,  the  Father  Provincial  offered  ;  ome  ob- 
jections, knowing  that  no  one  had  ye'i  been  able 
to  succeed  in  ameliorating  the  condition  of  this 
people,  under  the  double  relation  of  spiritual  and 
temporal.  In  the  interval,  the  Indians  were  in 
the  most  painful  uncertainty  not  knowing  wheth- 
er the  ''Great  Father"  v/ould  grant  or  refuse 
them  their  petition.  But  they  were  soon  satis- 
fied ;  our  Society  accepted  the  mission. 

In  the  autumn  of  1846,  the  Reverend  Father 
Schoenmakers  quitted  v^t.  Louis  to  go  to  tl**; 
Osages,  with  the  intention  of  return 'ncr.  pfter 
having  examined  the  state  of  affairs,  the  houses, 
etc.  He  came  back  to  St.  Louis  in  midwinter, 
and  his  second  departure  was  retarded  until  the 
following  spring. 


fath£:r  bax.  225 

After  Father  Schoenmakers  had  left  them,  the 
poor  Indians  counted  the  days  and  the  hours  un- 
til spring,  at  which  time  he  promised  to  return 
to  them ;  but  they  waited  in  vain !  The  year  glid- 
ed past;  they  lost  all  hope  of  seeing  him  again. 
Nevertheless  they  were  resolved  to  accept  none 
but  Catholic  missionaries. 

When  all  our  preparations  were  completed, 
Father  Schoenmakers,  myself,  and  three  coadjut- 
or Brothers,  quitted  St.  Louis  on  the  7th  of 
April,  1847,  ^^'^^^  we  arrived  on  the  bank  of  the 
Neosho,  a  tributary  of  the  Arkansas,  situated 
about  130  miles  from  \\  estport,  frontier  town  of 
the  State  of  Missouri. 

To  3^ou,  my  dear  Father,  who  have  many  times 
traversed  the  great  extent,  from  the  States  to 
the  Pacitic,  who  have  traveled  over  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  their  valleys — our  pains,  troubles, 
and  fatigues  must  appear  truly  insignificant.  Bu*- 
this  trial  was  very  severe  to  us,  who  were  enter- 
ing, for  the  first  time,  into  the  immense  prairies 
of  the  Indians,  which  we  had  only  measured  ac- 
cording to  the  deceptive  images  of  our  imagina- 
tion. Trnlv,  the  reality  appeared  to  us  very  dif- 
ferent. We  endured  hunger,  thiist,  and  cold. 
For  a  fortnight  we  were  obJged  to  pass  our 
nights  in  the  open  air,  in  the  dampest  season  of 
the  year,  each  having  naught  for  a  bed  but  a  buf- 
falo-hide and  a  single  blanket. 

About  100  miles  from  Westport  we  had  a  pan- 
ic. Arrived  at  a  place  named  "Walnut  Grove," 
we  perceived  in  the  distance  a  large  troop  of 
mounted  Indians,  who  turned  directly  toward 
us.  Unaccustomed  to  such  sights,  we  were  seiz- 
ed with  great  anxiety  which  soon  changed  to 
genuine  fright ;  for  we  saw  -those  savages,  on 
approaching  us,  alight  from  their  horses  with 
extraordinary  agility.    At  once  they  took  posses- 


226  l-^ATHER    BAX. 

sion  of  our  carts  and  wagons,  which  we  fancied 
destined  to  pillage.  They  examined  our  chests 
and  our  baggage  as  minutely  and  coolly  as  old 
custom-house  officers.  Happily  we  recovered 
from  our  fright.  We  presented  them  with  rolls 
of  tobacco.  They  shook  hands  with  us  in  token 
of  friendship.  Soon  after  we  lost  sight  of  them, 
congratulating  ourselves  at  having  escaped  at 
so  trifling  an  expense.  An  idea,  however,  occu- 
pied us :  they  might  repent  of  their  benevolence 
towards  us  and  attack  us  and  steal  our  horses 
during  the  night.  We  consequently  left  the  or- 
dinary route,  and  went  and  camped  far  in  the 
plain.  These  Indians,  as  w^e  learned  later,  be- 
longed to  the  nation  of  vSauks,  and  had  been  pay- 
ing a  visit  to  their  allies,  the  Osages. 

On  the  28th  of  April  we  reached  our  destina- 
tion, to  the  great  surprise  and  delight  of  the  In- 
dians :  for,  as  I  have  already  observed  to  you, 
they  had  resigned  the  hope  of  seeing  us. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  paint  to  you  the  en- 
thusiasm with  w^hich  we  were  received.  They 
considered  us  as  men  whom  the  Great  Spirit  had 
sent  to  teach  them  the  good  news  of  salvation ; 
to  trace  out  to  them  the  path  to  heaven,  and  to 
procure  them,  also,  earthly  peace  and  plenty. 

At  the  first  sight  of  these  savages,  and  finding 
myself  surrounded  by  these  children  of  the  des- 
ert, I  could  not  suppress  the  pain  I  felt.  I  saw 
their  sad  condition.  The  adult  had  only  a  slight 
covering  over  the  middle  of  the  body ;  the  little 
children,  even  as  old  as  six  or  seven  years,  were 
wholly  destitute  of  clothing.  Half  serious,  half 
jesting,  I  thought  that  a  truly  savage  portion  of 
the  Lord's  vineyard  had  been  given  me  to  culti- 
vate; but  I  did  not  lose  courage.  The  object  of 
my  desires,  and  the  subject  of  my  prayers,  dur- 
ing many  long  years,  had  been  to  become  a  mis- 


FATHER    BAX.  227 

sionary  to  the  Indians.     That  grace  was  obtain- 
ed; 1  felt  contented  and  happy. 

On  our  arrival,  we  found  the  houses  unfinish- 
ed, very  inconvenient  and  much  too  small  for  a 
great  number  of  children;  they  were  also  very 
badly  situated,  not  being,  as  they  should  have 
been,  in  the  center  of  all  the  villages  which  com- 
pose the  Mission.  From  this  resulted  an  increase 
in  the  number  and  diflFiculties  of  our  occupations. 

The  population  of  the  tribes  (comprised  un- 
der the  name  of  Great  Osages  and  Little  Osag- 
es),  is  nearly  5,000  souls,  of  v/hom  3,500  reside 
on  the  banks  of  the  Neosho;  and  the  others  on 
the  Verdigris,  a  little  river  smaller  than  the  for- 
mer, altho  the  valleys  and  the  prairies  that  it 
waters  are  more  favorable  to  culture. 

The  Osages  who  remain  on  the  banks  of  the 
Neosho  are  divided  into  several  little  villages. 
The  Little  Osages  form  a  population  of  T.500 
souls,  and  are  22  miles  from  the  Mission.  The 
village  of  Nanze-Waspe  contams  six  hundred  in- 
habitants, at  a  distance  of  twelve  miles ;  the  vil- 
lage Bijichief  is  composed  of  three  hundred  souls, 
four  miles ;  the  ^^'eichaka-Ougin,  of  five  hun- 
dred, three  miles ;  Little  Town  numbers  three 
hundred  inhabitants,  and  is  thirty  miles  distant; 
Bi|Sf-hill  or  Fassoi-Ou^rin,  situated  on  the  Verdi- 
gris, forty  miles  ofiF,  has  a  population  of  six  hun- 
dred souls;  les  Cheniers.  or  Sanze-Ou^rin, 
amount  to  nearly  seven  hundred,  fifty-five  miles ^ 
the  "Rlack-Doe.  or  Skankta-Sape.  village,  sixty 
miles  ofif  .contains  four  hundred  inhabitants. 
There  arc.  besides,  other  small  villages,  dispersed 
at  a  crreat  distance  from  us.  The  tv/o  rivers  on 
which  they  dwell  empty  into  the  Arkansas.  The 
lowlands  are  in  eeneral  swampy,  but  the  plain  of 
the  Neosho  is  <:a,ndv. 

Fr.t-merlv  the  Osaofes  were  reDre<=ented  as  cruel 


228  FATHBJR   BAX. 

and  perverse,  addicted  to  the  most  degrading 
vices;  calumny  depicted  them  as  thieves,  assas- 
sins and  drunkards. 

To  this  last  reproach,  1  am  grieved  to  say 
they  have  given  occasion;  tliey  are  passionately 
fond  of  intoxicating  Hquors.  The  effects  of 
this  vice  had  become  so  terrible  that,  on  our  ar- 
rival, entire  tribes  were  nearly  destroyed.  In 
the  spring  of  1847,  in  one  village  alone,  thirty 
young  men,  in  the  prime  of  life,  were  victims 
of  strong  drink.  I  have  met  men,  women  and 
children,  in  a  complete,  state  of  intoxication,  drag- 
ging themselves  to  their  wigwams  like  so  many 
brutes.  This  spectacle,  my  dear  Father,  drew 
forth  many  tears  and  sighs  from  those  who  had 
been  selected  and  sent  to  labor  for  the  happiness 
^nd  salvation  of  these  unfortunate  beings.  lU 
was  extremely  painful  to  look  at  those  sons  of 
the  wilderness,  delivered  to  the  enemy  of  God 
and  man.  Thanks  to  our  Lord,  the  evil  was  ex- 
tripated  at  its  root ;  the  advice  of  a  kind  and  very 
worthy  agent  of  the  government,  as  well  as  our 
own  efforts,  have  succeeded  so  well,  that  drunk- 
enness has  been  almost  completely  banished. 
Daily  prayers  are  offered  that  this  crime,  and  all 
the  miseries  which  arise  in  its  train,  may  not 
appear  among  us.  At  present,  the  Indians  them- 
selves comprehend  the  necessity  of  temperance. 
Several  among  them  come  frequently  to  tell  me, 
with  great  simphxity,  that  they  do  not  fall  into 
this  vice  any  more.  These  savages  exhibit  in 
their  stoical  resolutions,  a  degree  of  courage 
that  should  excite  a  blush  on  the  check  of  many 
a  w^hite  man. 

Those  v/ho  call  them  thieves  and  assassins 
have  calumr.iated  them.  Some  bands  of  thieves, 
going  from  the  north  to  the  south,  cross  the  set- 
tlements of  the  Osages.  as  well  as  those  of  the 


FATHER   BAX.  229 

whites  who  inhabit  the  frontiers.  It  is  their 
trade  to  steal  everything  and  carry  all  away,  and 
in  such  a  manner  that  the  Osages  have  been  ac- 
cused of  the  thefts.  We  may  say  as  much  of  the 
pillages  committed  on  the  route  to  Santa  Fe. 

According  to  my  experie/xe,  I'^-cre  are  few  na- 
tions in  tl:is  region  as  affable  and  as  affectionate 
as  the  Osages.  Indeed  it  may  be  said  that  it  is 
natural  to  them  to  wish  to  live  in  peace  and  per- 
fect friendship  w^th  all  whom  they  know.  Peace 
and  harmony  reign  among  them ;  no  harsh  words 
ever  escape  their  tongues,  unless  when  they  are 
drunk  to  excess.  Now  they  are  at  peace  with 
all  the  tribes  ,  except  with  the  Pawnee-i\Iahas, 
whose  manner  of  acting  towards  them  would 
inspire  aversion  in  civilized  people  as  well  as  in 
barbarians.  Scarcely  are  the  Osages  gone  forth 
to  hunt  than  the  Pawnees,  who  wait  this  moment, 
fall  on  their  undefended  villages,  pillage  the  wig- 
wams, and  steal  the  horses.  The  Osages  have 
frequently  made  peace  with  this  nation ;  but  the 
treaties  have  hardly  been  ratified  ere  the  perfid- 
ious enemy  renewed  its  attacks. 

I  have  long  but  vainly  endeavored  to  put  an 
end  to  the  cruel  mania  of  taking  off  the  scalps  of 
the  dead  'and  wounded.  In  this  project,  as  in 
many  others,  I  have  been  checked  by  bad  coun- 
sels and  bad  examples  of  the  whites.  I  should 
be  pleased  to  be  able  to  tell  the  savages,  with 
whom  I  am  charged,  to  imitate  the  whites,  and 
it  would  be  most  agreea,ble  to  me  to  propose  them 
as  models  of  imitation,  but  my  words  would  be 
ineffectual.  Here,  as  formerly  in  Paraguay,  the 
Indian  derives  no  advantage  from  the  vicinity 
of  the  whites ;  on  the  contrary,  he  becomes  more 
artful,  more  deeply  plunged  in  vice,  and  finding 
no  blasphemous  words  in  his  own  tongue,  curses 
his  God  in  a  foreign  language. 


230  FATHI;R    BAX. 

To  demonstrate  to  yoii  ihe  evil  eiiects  of  the 
proximii}^  of  the  whites,  1  will  cite  you  a  little 
anecdote.  '^I'he  fact  occurred  about  a  year  ago. 
I  y/as  g'si'^.g  an  instruction  in  a  village  named 
Woichaka-Ougrin,  or  Cockle-bird.  The  subject 
w?.s  inlemperance.  I  spok^  of  the  evil  conse- 
quences of  this  passion,  of  its  effects  on  the 
health,  of  the  ra|)idity  with  v/hich  it  conducts 
men  to  the  tomb,  or  separates  them  from  their 
vyives  and  their  children  whom  the  Great  Spirit 
had  entrusted  to  them.  I  added  that  the  pleasure 
attciidin.s:  drinking  was  extremely  short,  while 
ihe  Mrnislimtnt  would  be  eternal.  .\s  I  was  con- 
cludiius  ^']-iai)e-shin-kanuk,  or  the  Little  Beaver, 
one  of  the  principal  men  of  the  Tribe,  arose  and 
said  to  me:  ''Father,  what  thou  sayest  is  true. 
We  believe  thy  words.  We  have  seen  men  buried 
becar.'-e  tncy  I'.-ved  and  drank  fire  water.  One 
th^ng  astonishes  us=  We  are  ignorant;  we  are 
not  acquainted  with  books;  we  never  heard  the 
words  of  the  Great  Spirit:  but  the  whites  who 
know  books,  who  have  understanding,  and  who 
have  heard  the  commandments  of  the  Great  Spir- 
it,— why  do  they  drink  this  fire-water?  Why  do 
tbey  hrmf"^  it  to  us.  when  thev  know  God  sees 
them?" 

T  will  now  enter  into  some  more  particular  de- 
tails concerninjT  -^ur  misc?ons  and  labors.  Tmme- 
d'atelv  after  our  arrival  in  the  spring  of  1847, 
our  first  care  was  to  prepare  a  school.  It  was 
opened  on  the  TOth  t»f  May.  The  scholars  were 
riof  verv  nrmerous  at  the  commencement:  some 
half-bloods  and  three  Indians  were  the  only  ones 
t^nt  rrpcented  '^mselvf^s.  The  parents,  full  of 
prejudices  aerainct  a  "school,"  gave  for  excuse, 
thpt  the  children  who  had  been  confided  to  the 
former  missionaries  fthe  Presbyterians),  had 
Irp.riied   riothin.^.   had  b-^en  wh'*pped   every  day. 


FATHl^R    BAX.  23 1 

made  to  work  continually,  and  at  last  ran  away. 
These  reports  spread  far  and  wide.  The  most 
efficacious  correction  that  a  father  could  employ 
against  a  child,  was  to  threaten  it  with  being 
sent  to  school.  I  had  proofs  of  this  a  short  time 
after  our  arrival.  In  one  of  my  visits  to  a  village 
of  Little  Osages,  called  Huzcgta,  having  an  in- 
terpreter with  me,  1  entered  into  the  lodge  of  the 
first  chief.  On  presenting  myself,  I  offered  my 
hand  in  token  of  friendship.  "Who  are  you?" 
said  he  to  me.  "A  tapouska,  or  missionary,  " 
was  the  reply.  During  some  moments  he  hung 
his  head  without  uttering  a  word.  Tlien  raising 
his  eyes,  he  said  in  a  bad  humor:  "The  mission- 
aries never  did  any  good  to  our  nation."  The  in- 
terpreter answered  that  I  did  not  belong  to  the 
class  of  missionaries  that  he  had  seen;  that  1 
was  a  French  tapouska,  a  Black-gown,  who  had 
come  at  their  request  and  at  that  of  the  "Great 
Father."  Then  serenity  reappeared  on  the  visage 
of  the  chief  and  he  cried  out,  "This  is  good 
news."  He  immediately  offered  me  his  han<l, 
called  his  wife,  and  ordered  bui¥a!o-soup,  wish- 
ing to  feast  my  arrival.  He  proposed  several 
questions  relative  to  the  mann.^r  in  which  T  would 
educate  the  ch'ldren,  if  tliey  were  sent  to  me;  he 
declared  to  mc  that  he  did  not  approve  of  whip- 
ping the  children;  he  asked  me,  in  fine,  if  we 
would  itistruct  aged  persons.  When  I  ^oM  him 
that  we  came  to  instruct  everybody,  to  announce 
the  word  of  God  to  the  whole  nation,  he  express- 
ed much  del-ight  and  gratitude.  As  soop  as  he 
knew  us  and  learned  the  object  of  our  visit,  his 
prejudices  and  his  apprehensions  vanished. 

At  my  first  visits,  the  children  would  not  ap- 
proach me.  T  dissipated  their  fears  by  giving 
them  cakes  and  marbles,  with  which  my  pocket? 
were  always  filled.     They  became  familiar,  and 


232  FATHER    BAX. 

in  a  short  time  they  were  extremely  attached  to 
me.  The  first  who  came  to  school,  ,being  very 
happy,  expressed  their  satisfaction  and  their  de- 
iiglii  to  their  parents,  praising  the  care  of  the 
Black-gowns  in  teaching  and  feeding  them.  This 
news  spread  abroad.  Now  the  children  entreat 
the  parents  to  sufifer  them  to  go  to  the  Mission; 
the  parents  never  refuse  them,  for  the  Indian  is 
full  of  indulgence  towards  his  little  ones. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year,  those  who  were 
received  and  those  who  desired  to  be  admitted, 
surpassed  the  number  we  could  lodge.  We  have 
ever  since  been  crowded.  In  a  house  built  for 
twenty  persons  only,  we  were  obliged  to 
lodge  fifty  children.  In  order  to  take  measures, 
the  nation  assembled  and  requested  the  agent  to 
petition  their  Great  Father  to  augment  and  en- 
large the  houses  of  the  Mission.  The  govern- 
ment acceded  to  this  demand. 

The  chiefs  cannot  be  too  much  praised  for  the 
good  example  that  they  have  given  to  the  nation, 
and  the  ardent  desire  that  they  manifest  for  the 
education  of  their  daughters.  When  they  first 
made  me  this  latter  request,  I  found  myself 
singularly  embarrassed  for  the  means  of  realizing 
so  laudable  a  project.  Fatlier  Scboenmakers  re- 
solved to  interest  a  kind  and  fervent  community 
of  nuns  in  the  education  of  the  Osage  girls.  With 
this  intention  he  went  to  St.  Louis ;  but  he  knock- 
ed in  vain  at  the  door  of  several  convents  of  that; 
city,  for  the  enterprise  frightened  every  one.  He 
was  not  discouraged.  At  length  he  succeeded  in 
obtaining  the  good  and  charitable  Sisters  of  Lo- 
retto,  in  Kentucky,  for  the  education  of  the  girls 
of  this  remote  Mission.  In  the  autumn  of  the 
year  1847,  four  religious  arrived  to  share  our 
labors.  Their  suflFerings,  their  trials,  and  their 
privations  were  very  great.     They  were  obliged 


FATHiiR    BAX.  233 

to  sleep  in  the  open  air.  That  did  not  hinder  two 
other  Sisters  from  coming  to  join  them  a  little 
after  in  their  heroic  enterprise.  Their  patience, 
their  kindness,  their  courage,  and  their  persever- 
ance have  gained  the  esteem,  affection,  and  love 
of  every  one.  They  are  succeeding;  they  have 
already  produced  a  considerable  change,  and  are 
doing  great  good.  The  talents  displayed  in  the 
direction  of  their  school,  and  the  rapid  progress 
of  the  children  are  admired  by  all  the  strangers 
who  visit  this  community. 

In  order  not  to  pass  the  limits  of  a  letter,  I 
will  leave  the  rest  till  another  moment,  and  I  will 
inclose  it  to  you  in  a  few  days. 

In  the  rnean  time,  reverend  and  very  dear 
Father,  I  commend  myself  to  your  holy  sacrific- 
es and  your  good  prayers. 

Your  ever  devoted  Brother, 

J.  J.  Bax,  S.  J. 

FATHER   BAX'S   SECOND   LETTER. 

\^illage  of  St.  Francis  Hieronymo, 
June  10,  1850. 

Rev.  and  Very  Dear  Father :  In  my  last  letter 
I  was  obliged,  against  my  inclination,  to  give  you 
a  very  abridged  description  of  the  truly  prosper- 
ous state  of  our  schools. 

Nothing  astonishes  the  whites  more  than  the 
extraordinary  progress  of  our  little  Osages  in 
the  different  branches  taught  them.  Such  are: 
reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  geography,  and 
grammar,  for  the  boys :  reading,  writing,  geog- 
raphy, needlework,  embroidery,  and  drawing,  for 
the  girls.  To  these  dispositions  all  join  a  very 
decided  taste  for  music,  and  find  great  pleasure 
in  singing  pions  canticles.  They  are  besides,  very 
polite,  docile,  and  obedient.    As  soon  as  they  per- 


234  FATHER    BAX. 

ceive  a  white,  their  first  movement  is  to  go  and 
present  him  their  hand.  Their  sensibility  and 
good  dispositions  have  often  alleviated  the  pain 
that  we  experienced  when  our  means  would  not 
suiter  us  to  provide  for  their  necessities. 

If  it  happens  that  one  of  the  Fathers  is  absent 
during  three  or  four  days,  they  are  on  the  watch 
for  the  moment  when  he  is  expected.  As  soon 
as  they  perceive  him,  which  sometimes  takes 
place  at  a  distance  of  three  or  four  miles,  nothing 
can  hinder  them  from  running  to  meet  him,  and 
crying  out :  "Father,  how  are  you?  how  do  you! 
do?" 

The  greater  number  among  them  are  remark- 
able for  truly  admirable  sentiments  of  devotion. 
Hence  religion  is  the  most  efficacious  means  for 
correcting  ilie    faults   usual   at   their   age.     The 
most  powerful  rebuke  tliat  w^e  can  make  them  is 
to  ask  them :     "My  child,  when  you  were  baptis- 
ed, did  you  not  promise  God  that  you  would  be 
good?"     Of  a  considerable  number,  we  may  re- 
port great  progress  in  the  catechism.    Forty  have 
m.ade  their  first  communion.    The.se  last  visit  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  with  as  much  regularity  and 
devotion  as  the  most  fervent  among  the  faithful. 
The  above,  Rev.  Father,  gives  us  the  highest 
consolation.     Hardly  two  years  since,  these  little 
neophytes  were  running  naked  in  the  woods  and 
on  the  plains,  addicted  to  every  kind  of  vice,  and 
having  no  knowledge  of  their  Creator,  nor  of  the 
end  of  their  creation.    Never  has  the  goodness  of 
God  been  more  manifest  to  me;  never  have  I 
see!}  the  divine  influence  more  generally  felt  and 
better  appreciated  :  never  before  this  day,  have 
T  been  so  int^'mately  convinced  that  the  Lord  of- 
fers to  all  nations,  to  everv  family,  and  to  each 
individual,  the  means  of  being  saved,  and  of  be- 
ing ^mited  to  the  Holv  Church 


FATHER    BAX.  235 

What  happened  to  us  011  the  day  of  our  arrival 
here,  serves  as  a  powerful  contirmation  of  this 
truth.  It  was  reported  to  us  that  an  Indian  had 
just  died  in  a  village  about  four  miles  distant.  I 
expressed  to  my  informant  the  grief  this  misfor- 
tune caused  me.  He  told  me  that  another  man, 
in  the  same  place,  was  at  the  point  of  death,  la 
the  hope  of  arriving  in  time  to  baptise  him,  I 
set  out  immediately.  Arrived  at  the  place  where 
the  Neosho  divides  into  two  branches,  I  found 
the  waters  so  swollen  that  it  was  impossible  to 
pass  them,  and  would  be  so  during  several  days 
more. 

On  the  fourth  day  (it  was  Sunday),  a  half- 
blood  passed  the  river  on  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  to 
come  and  hear  Mass.  I  questioned  him  concern- 
ing the  stale  of  the  sick  man.  He  had  been  in 
his  agony  for  four  days;  he  had  ever  shown  an 
exce!le::t  deportment,  and  had  manifested  an 
earnest  desire  to  see  the  Black-gown,  who  had 
come  to  annonnce  the  word  of  God  to  liis  nation. 
I  mounted  n-y  horse  directely,  with  some  appie- 
hension  that  my  guide  might  delay  my  arrival 
In  this  I  was  mistaken — he  reached  there  more 
r'uickly  on  fcict  than  I  on  my  horse. 

I  found  my  Indian  extrcm.ely  ill;  evidently  he 
was  hastening  rapidly  to  eternity.  As  soon  as 
I  entered  the  lodge,  he  sahiteri  me  with  joy  and 
afiPection.  I  m.ade  him  comprehend,  by  means 
of  an  in.terpreter,  that  I  came  to  speak  with  him 
of  the  Great  vSpirit,  and  instruct  him  in  the 
truths  necessary  to  salvation.  "I  thank  thee, 
Father:  thy  words  are  kind  and  consoling;  my 
heart  is  overjoyed  that  thou  hast  come."  Such 
were  the  v/ords  he  addressed  me  with  a  dying 
voice.  I  spoke  to  him  of  the  dispositions  requis- 
ite for  receiving  baptism,  and  told  him,  among 
other  thing's,  that  he  mi^st  renotinre  all  the  bad 


236  FATHER    BAX. 

actions  that  he  might  have  committed,  be  con- 
trite for  them,  and  never  again  do  evil,  tho  he 
might  be  restored  to  health;  that  if  he  was  sin- 
cerely disposed  to  act  thus,  the  Great  Spirit 
would  forget  all  the  sins  of  his  past  life.  ''Fath- 
er," he  replied,  "1  always  wished  to  be  good;  I 
never  stole,  I  never  became  drunk,  I  have  never 
killed.  However,  if  I  have  offended  the  Great 
Spirit,  I  repent.  I  desire  to  please  Him,  so  that, 
if  I  die,  He  may  have  mercy  on  me,  and  grant 
me  the  the  grace  of  being  admitted  into  His  pres- 
ence." Fatigued  with  the  effort  he  had  made  to 
speak,  he  kept  silence  during  several  moments; 
then,  again  opening  his  eyes,  he  said;  ''Father, 
if  thou  believest  me  worthy  of  receiving  baptism, 
thou  wilt  grant  me  a  great  favor  and  many  bless- 
ings." Fully  satisfied  with  the  lively  desire  that 
he  manifested,  I  administered  that  sacrament 
to  him.  Scarcely  was  he  regenerated  in  the  heal- 
ing waters  of  baptism,  than  he  expired,  and  went 
to  eniov  the  happiness  reserved  to  the  children 
of  the  Church. 

The  consoling  death  of  this  Indian  was  follow- 
ed by  a  mcst  distressing  scene.  I  had  never  wit- 
nessed demonstrations  of  sorrow  so  profound. 
The  men,  throwing  off  that  stoical  indifference 
which  appears  to  be  so  natural  to  them,  heaved 
deep  sighs  and  shed  torrents  of  tears;  the  wo- 
men, with  dishevelled  hair,  shrieked  and  gave 
all  the  signs  of  a  despair  over  which  reason  can- 
not predominate.  I  buried  the  Indian,  on  the  fol- 
dowing  day,  in  accordance  with  the  ritual  of  the 
Church.  The  whole  village  was  present  at  this 
ceremony.  The  assistants  witnessed  the  atten- 
tion and  respect  v/hich  we  pay  to  the  dead  with 
a  deep  gratitude.  From  that  time  forth,  we  have 
always  assisted  the  sick  in  their  agony.  The  time 
for  instructing  them  is  very  short,  and  tbeir  ideas 


FATHER    BAX.  237 

concerning  religion  are  more  than  imperfect; 
but,  on  the  other  side,  they  have  all  the  simplicity 
and  good- will  of  children,  and  their  disposition 
is  most  consoling. 

A  few  days  ago  I  baptised  the  oldest  man  in 
the  nation.  Impossible  to  tell  you  the  impres- 
sions I  experienced  when  pouring  the  holy  water 
over  that  head,  whitened  with  length  of  years. 
Baptism  is  one  of  the  sacraments  of  our  holy 
religion  that  the  Indians  understand  the  best,  and 
it  is  the  one  that  they  are  most  desirous  of  re- 
ceiving. 

Some  incidents,  that  a  few  would  style  provi- 
dential, and  others  accidental,  have  contributed 
much  to  augment  (in  this  tribe)  faith  concern- 
ing the  efficiency  of  that  sacrament.  I  will  cite 
but  one  example : 

One  evening — it  was  during  the  autumn  of 
1848 — an  Indian  arrived  at  the  Mission.  Grief 
and  anxiety  were  depicted  on  his  face.  As  soon 
as  he  perceived  me,  he  said  to  me:  "Father, 
come  without  delay,  for  my  wife  is  dying.  All 
despair,  and  I  consider  her  already  as  dead.  Thou 
didst  tell  us  to  call  thee  when  any  one  was  sick 
or  in  danger  of  death.  I  wish  her  to  learn  the 
words  of  the  Great  Spirit  before  she  dies.  This 
is  wh3'  I  come  to  call  thee."  I  had  just  arrived 
from  a  village  called  Cawva-Shinka,  or  Little 
Village,  situated  thirty  miles  from  the  Mission; 
I  was  exhausted  with  fatigue.  But  how  resist 
an  invitation  so  pressing,  and  above  all  in  a 
circumstance  so  grave?  After  a  moment  of  re- 
pose, I  set  out  with  the  man.  Arrived  at  the 
village  at  midnight,  I  found  the  lodge  filled  with 
wom.en  and  children,  crying  and  singing  the  In- 
dian death-song.  I  besought  them  to  conclude 
these  lugubrious  accents,  and  approached  the 
sick   woman,    extended    on    a   buffalo-hide,    and 


238  FATHER   BAX. 

scarcely  covered  with  some  tattei^ed  blankets. 
She  was  unconscious.  As  she  appeared  to  me 
not  likely  soon  to  return  to  herself,  I  resolved  to 
remain  until  morning.  An  Indian  had  the  kind- 
ness to  lend  me  his  blanket.  1  wrapped  my- 
self in  it,  and  endeavored  to  take  a  few  hours' 
rest.  But  it  was  vain.  1  never  passed  such  a 
miserable  night.  The  women  and  the  children 
recommenced  their  frightful  clamor;  the  dogs 
of  the  wigwam  passed  back  and  forward  over 
me  with  such  steady  regularity,  that  it  would 
have  been  quite  impossible  for  me  to  count  the 
number  of  visits.  About  daylight,  the  patient 
began  to  give  some  signs  of  life;  but  she  could 
not  yet  speak.  As  soon  as  she  recovered  her 
senses  entirely,  I  made  her  a  short  exhortation. 
She  appeared  attentive,  and  gave  signs  of  real 
joy.  I  .baptised  her,  and  departed.  Two  hours 
after  my  leaving  she  was  perfectly  recovered. 
She  arose,  took  her  infant,  and  nursed  it. 

Not  long  after,  I  returned  to  the  same  village, 
and  found  myself  immediately  surrounded  by 
men,  women  and  children,  shouting,  unanimous- 
ly, Komkai — we  are  very  glad  to  see  you.  This 
word  is  used  for  giving  a  cordial  reception.  Af- 
ter recoimting  to  me  the  fact,  and  the  cure  of 
the  sick  woman,  they  brought  me  twenty-five 
children  to  baptize.  "Father,"  they  said  to  me, 
"we  believe  thy  words.  We  know  that  baptism 
comes  from  the  Great  Spirit.  We  are  poor,  ig- 
norant people;  we  cannot  read  the  book  that 
contains  the  word  of  the  Great  Spirit;  but  thou 
wilt  explain  it  to  us,  and  we  will  believe  thee." 
T  have  had  very  evident  proofs  of  the  sincerity 
of  their  ^ood  intentions,  and  of  their  firm  resolu- 
tion not  to  offend  God.  after  having  received 
baptism. 

About  a  month  ago.   I  stopped  at  an  Indian 


FATHER   BAX.  239 

wigwam,  its  inmates  liad  not  been  able  to  go 
on  the  chase,  on  account  of  the  illness  of  their 
little  daughter.  Her  mother  told  me  that  they 
were  suffering  from  hunger,  and  that  they  had 
not  eaten  meat  for  a  Long  time.  She  added  that 
she  had  seen  a  stray  ox  in  the  forest,  belonging 
to  a  white  man,  and,  that  she  would  have 
killed  it  had  she  not  recalled  the  promise  that  she 
had  made  at  her  baptism — rather  to  die  of  hun- 
ger, to  offending  the  Great  Spirit;  and,  that  if 
she  had  killed  the  ox,  the  Great  Spirit  would  no 
longer  have  had  compassion  on  her  in  her  misery. 
This  little  recital  pleased  and  edified  me.  I  could 
not  refrain  from  reflecting,  that  the  condition  of 
the  world  would  be  widely  different,  did  alt 
Christians  remember  as  faithfully  and  practically 
their  baptismal  vows  as  did  this  poor  Indian  wo- 
man. 

So  far,  we  have  baptized  more  than  five  hun- 
dred persons.  One  hundred  adults  and  children 
have  had  the  happiness  of  receiving  the  sacra- 
ment of  regeneration  before  dying.  When  the 
Indians  are  well  taught,  we  have  not  much  to 
fear  in  regard  to  their  exemplary  conduct.  The 
greatest  obstacle  for  us  is  in  the  difficulty  that 
we  experience  in  acquiring  their  tongue.  It  con- 
tains very  few  words,  and  those  quite  inconven- 
ient for  expressing  abstract  ideas.  These  peo- 
ple have  some  confused  ideas  Ol  a  Supreme 
Being,  of  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  of  the  bliss 
or  of  the  chastisements  of  the  future  life;  but 
these  ideas  are  mingled  with  material  and  super- 
stitious notions.  The  following  is  an  example: 
They  believe  that  those  whom  the  Great  Spirit 
admits  into  His  happy  abode  will  there  receive 
an  abundance  of  buffaloes,  moose,  deer  and  com; 
that  when  a  person  dies  his  soul  continues  to 
inhabit  the  place  in  which  it  quitted  the  body; 


240  FATHiCR    BAX. 

that  souls  sometimes  return  /from  the  other 
world,  to  take  and  conduct  there  other  souls. 
For  this  reason  they  fear  to  travel  in  the  dark, 
especially  when  any  one  is  very  ill;  they  think 
that  then  there  certainly  is  some  spirit  fluttering 
about  in  the  air.  Some  of  their  Vig-kontah  (jug- 
glers) pretend,  on  many  occasions,  to  have  the 
power  of  chasing  this  spirit,  and  of  saving  the 
life  of  the  person  who  is  dangerously  sick.  When 
there  is  danger  of  death,  the  most  superstitious 
have  frequent  recourse  to  these  ''medicine  men ;" 
a  horse,  a  mule,  or  even  several,  must  reward 
these  services.  I  know  one  of  these  imposters 
who  by  this  trade  had  gained,  in  one  spring  only, 
thirty-two  horses.  Their  efforts  tend  principally 
to  persuading  the  poor  Indian  not  to  call  upon 
us  in  their  maladies.  They  declare,  with  the 
greatest  assurance  that  they  will  annul  the 
efficaciousness  of  our  power. 

Last  spring  I  went  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  Little 
Osages.  The  day  of  my  arrival,  I  baptized  three 
persons  who  were  dangerously  sick;  they  died 
the  next  day.  Some  days  after,  a  malignant  fev- 
er broke  out,  and  proved  fatal  to  many.  The 
jugglers  attributed  the  cause  of  the  scourge  to 
my  presence,  declaring  that  I  had  annihilated 
their  power  over  the  spirits.  It  is  afflicting,  but 
also  somewhat  laughable,  to  see  these  jugglers 
endeavoring  to  drive  away  the  spirits.  "They 
make  themselves  as  hideous  as  possible,  equip 
themselves  with  all  their  instruments  and  weap- 
ons, discharge  their  guns,  brandish  their  clubs 
and  tomahawks,  beat  the  drum,  and  have  re- 
course, in  fine,  to  whatever  can  produce  a  noiseJ 
in  a  word,  they  employ  all  imaginable  tricks  to 
deceive  those  poor  Indians.  But  their  power, 
which  was  formerly  very  great,  is  beginning  to 
decline.     The  esteem  which  the  savages  had  for 


FATlilCR    BAX.  241 

them  is  daily  diminishing.  The  Indians  are  at- 
tached to  us,  principally,  say  they,  because  we 
liave  no  wives  and  children,  "if  you  had,"  they 
say,  "you  would  do  like  the  missionaries  (the 
Presbyterians )  who  preceded  you,  you  would 
think  too  much  of  your  families,  and  you  would 
neglect  the  red-man  and  his  children." 

1  often  go  and  visit  them  in  their  villages,  and 
I  am  always  received  with  the  greatest  civility. 
A  crier  precedes  me,  to  announce  my  approach. 
When  they  are  all  collected  in  a  large  wigwam, 
or  beneath  the  wide-spread  branches  of  some 
stately  tree,  I  begin  my  instruction.  They  listen 
most  attentively.  When  I  have  done  speaking, 
the  chief  rises,  and  addresses  his  tribe  some 
words  of  paternal  advice,  and  repeats  what  the 
missionary  has  said,  or  makes  comments  on  it. 
One  Sunday  a  chief  named  Pai-nonpashe,  of  the 
Great  Hill  Village,  on  the  Verdigris  River,  came 
to  see  his  two  children,  wdio  were  boarding  with 
us.  A  short  instruction,  which  I  crave  after  Mass, 
produced  such  an  impression  on  his  mind,  that, 
when  returning  home,  he  said  to  a  half-breed 
who  accompanied  him :  "I  begin  now  to  discov- 
er what  we  must  do  to  be  agreeable  to  the  Great 
Spirit,  and  to  become  happy  in  this  life  and  in 
the  other." 

The  excellent  health  enjoyed  by  our  children 
at  the  Mission  school,  greatlv  astonishes  the  par- 
ents. Indeed,  thus  far  sickness  has  been  un- 
known among  them ;  not  one  of  them  has  died 
since  we  have  been  here.  This  contributes  much 
to'  augment  the  confidence  which  the  Indians 
feel  towards  us,  and  dissipr.tes  all  their  fears 
during-  the  season  of  great  hunts,  in  which  they 
are  obliged  to  remove  from  us  for  several' 
months. 

When    the    frisfhtful    ravages    caused    by   the 


242  FATHiiR    BAX. 

cholera  along  the  river  Kansas,  at  Westport, 
and  in  Other  places,  were  known  here,  the  Osag- 
es,  panic-struck,  immediately  resolved  to  go  and 
seek  their  safety  on  the  plains.  Some  desired 
to  conduct  their  children  with  them ;  but  the  ma- 
jority opposed  It,  in  the  firm  persuasion  that  they 
would  be  in  security  under  the  care  of  the  Black- 
gowns,  and  protected  by  the  Son  of  God  and  his 
Holy  Mother.  They  therefore  retired  to  the 
plains,  and  left  their  children  with  us.  They  had 
been  but  a  short  time  in  their  new  abode,  when 
the  cholera  declared  itself  in  the  most  terrible 
manner,  and  carried  off  a  great  number.  Perceiv- 
ing their  error  in  having  fled  from  the  Mission, 
they  hastened  to  return,  and  encamp,  as  they 
said,  quite  near  the  kind  Fathers.  They  conse- 
quently hastened  with  such  precipitation  that 
they  made  no  provision,  and  traveled  day  and 
night.  In  proportion  as  they  reached  their  own 
lands,  the  scourge  diminished.  The  last  case  of 
death  occurred  at  fifteen  miles  from  the  Mission. 

The  greatest  difficulties  we  encounter  arise 
from  the  half-bloods,  almost  all  of  French  origin. 
They  have  nothing  of  the  Catholic  but  baptism, 
and  an  inviolable  attachment  to  their  creed,  of 
which,  for  want  of  instruction,  they  know  almost 
nothing,  and  thev  practice  still  less.  They  have, 
again  and  again,  proved  to  the  Protestant  min- 
isters that  their  efforts  to  make  them  change 
their  religion  were  absolutely  useless. 

Another  obstacle  for  us  is  the  mode  of  life 
that  the  Indians  are  obliged  to  lead,  in  onder  to 
procure  the  provisions  that  are  necessary  for 
their  subsistence.  They  commonly  pass  six 
months  of  the  year  in  the  chase,  which  forces 
them  to  remove  from  us,  and  exposes  the  mor- 
ality of  those  who  would  wish  to  live  as  ex- 
emplary  Christians,   to  great   temptations     and 


FATHl^R   BAX.  243 

dangers.  I  hope  that  this  state  of  affairs  will 
change;  for  many  are  already  convinced  that 
they  cannot  long  rely  on  the  game,  and  that  they 
should  have  already  commenced  cultivating  their 
grounds,  had  they  but  the  means  necessary. 

A  deputation  of  the  nation,  composed  of  the 
principal  chief,  of  five  warriors,  and  an  interpre- 
ter, went  to  pay  a  visit  to  their  ''Great  Father." 
President  Taylor  received  them  with  great  kind- 
ness, and  encouraged  them  to  commence  culti- 
vating their  lands.  1  cannot  express  to  you  the 
gratitude  that  I  experienced  when  I  think  of  the 
truly  paternal  care  lavished  on  my  dear  savages 
by  their  Great  Father,  and  by  all  the  officers 
employed  by  the  Indian  department.  The  sav- 
ages have  been  greatly  flattered  by  it.  I  am 
fully  convinced  that  great  good  will  result  from 
it. 

This,  Rev.  Father,  is  but  an  imperfect  sketcl< 
of  the  state  of  our  Mission,  in  which  we  hope  to 
gather  many  fruits  of  salvation,  if  it  pleases  God 
that  we  remain  in  it.  Pecuniary  difficulties  have 
placed,  and  still  place  us  in  very  critical  posi- 
tions; but,  Rev.  Father,  the  assistance  that  we 
sometimes  receive  from  the  Propagation  of  the 
Faith,  from  some  generous  hearts  and  friends  of 
the  Indians,  relieves  us.  We  hope  in  divine 
Providence  for  all  and  in  all.  *'God  is  faithful." 
Commend  us  to  the  prayers  of  your  pious  con- 
gregation, and  your  kind  community  in  St.  Louis. 
Reverend  and  most  dear  Father, 

Your  devoted  brother  in  Jesus  Christ, 

J.  J.  Bax,  S.  J. 

FATHER    BAX'S    THIRD    LHTTKR. 

Mission  Among  The  Osages, 

St.  Francis  Hieronymo,  April  18,  1852. 

Reverend  and  Dear     Father : — T     desired     to 


244  FATHER    BAX. 

write  to  you  much  sooner,  but  we  have  been  for 
some  time,  and  are  yet,  in  a  terrible  crisis.  I 
have  never  witnessed  aught  hke  it;  yet  God's 
gracious  will  de  done. 

About  three  weeks  before  the  grand  solemnity 
of  Easter,  forty-five  children  of  our  boarding 
school  fell  sick,  in  an  interval  of  three  days  and 
a  half.  At  first,  we  could  not  discern  the  nature 
of  the  malady.  It  commenced  by  a  heavy  cold, 
attended  with  a  burning  fever.  After  four  or 
five  days,  the  measles  broke  out.  At  first  ;the 
alarm  was  not  very  great,  but  the  measles  disap- 
peared and  was  replaced  by  a  putrid  fever.  On 
Passion  Sunday,  the  saddest  of  my  life,  we  had 
two  corpses  laid  out,  and  about  twelve  of  our 
children  in  danger  of  death.  Eleven  of  our 
scholars  fell  victims  in  a  short  time,  and  two  will 
perhaps  speedily  follow  them.  We  are  obliged 
to  interrupt  the  school  for  some  time,  until  this 
terrible  visitation  be  passed.  The  contagion  is 
spreading  among  the  Indians,  and  the  mortality 
is  very  great.  It  will  be  difficult  to  collect  again 
the  scattered  flock.  However,  I  may  say,  that 
never  hitherto,  either  among  people  of  color  or 
whites,  either  among  persons  of  the  world  or 
religious,  have  I  been  witness  to  so  much  piety 
and  fervor  on  the  bed  of  death,  as  were  exhibited 
by  our  young  neophytes.  They  may  serve  as 
models.  Some,  prompted  by  their  own  piety, 
asked  to  hold  the  crucifix  in  their  hands,  and 
pressed  it  fervently  to  them,  without  being  willing 
to  yield  it.  during  more  than  two  hours.  They 
wished  the  statue  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  to  be 
placed  near  the  pillows  of  their  beds.  They  im- 
plored the  assistance  of  their  holy  Mother,  and 
fixed  their  dying  eyes  on  her  image.  T  firmly 
hope  and  believe  that  thev  already  enjoy  the 
presence  of  God. 


FATFJKR    B\X.  245 

The  Lord  seems  to  be  willing  to  gather  into  his 
garner  the  little  that  we  have  sowed  here  below. 
What  may  be  the  designs  of  Providence  for  the 
future,  we  cannot  and  dare  not  conjecture.  We 
have  lost  several  of  our  best  scholars,  and  of 
those  on  whom  we  had  founded  our  greatest  ex- 
pectations. 

Reverend  and  dear  Father.  Your  very  devot- 
ed servant  and  brother  in  Jesus  Christ, 

J.  J.  Bax.  S.  J. 


DEATH  OF  FATHER  BAX. 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  Rev.  Fr. 
P.  J.  DeSmet  S.  J.  under  date  of  April  16,  1855, 
from  wSt.  Joseph's  College,  Ky.  to  Father  De  La 
Croix : 

You  will  undoubtedly  be  gratified  to  have  some 
news  of  the  mission  of  St.  Francis  Hieronymo 
among  the  Osages,  to  whom  you  were  the  first 
to  announce  the  consolations  of  the  everlasting 
Gospel.  The  seed  of  salvation  which  you  plant- 
ed, and  which  w^as  afterwards  neglected,  has  not 
been  sterile.  You  are  acquainted  with  the  dif- 
ficulties of  the  Osage  mission.  Being  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  boundary  line  of  the  United 
vStates,  these  Indians  learn  to  adopt,  very  easily, 
all  the  vices  of  the  whites,  without  joining  to 
them  any  of  their  virtues.  They  forget  the 
frugality  and  simplicity  which  formerly  char- 
acterized them,  and  give  themselves  up  to  in- 
temperance and  the  perfidiousness  of  civilized 
life.  However,  every  year  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  adults  enter  the  bosom  of  the  Church ;  a 
great  number  of  children  receive  baptism,  and 
as  they  often  die  very  young,  they  are  so  many 
innocent  souls  who  intercede  in  heaven  for  the 


246  FATHER    BAX. 

conversion  of  their  parents,  buried  in  the  gros- 
sest superstition  and  idolatry  of  paganism. 

In  the  spring  1852  an  epidemic  malady,  which 
made  great  ravages,  became  for  a  large  number 
(although  weakening  the  power  of  their  nation) 
a  blessed  occasion  of  salvation.  The  violence  of 
this  disease,  against  which  the  Indian  cannot  be- 
easily  induced  to  take  necessary  precautions,  the 
sufferings  of  the  whole  tribe,  the  universal  panic, 
the  grief — all  these  miseries  presenting  them- 
selves under  different  forms — wrung  the  hearts 
of  the  missonaries.  Naught  but  the  reflection 
that  Providence  had  sent  this  terrible  scourge  for 
their  spiritual  good,  was  capable  of  consoling 
them. 

During  this  unhappy  year,  and  when  the  ex- 
treme violence  of  the  epidemic  had  ceased,  we 
were  called  to  deplore  the  loss  of  Father  Bax, 
who  fell  a  victim  of  truly  heroic  charity,  exercis- 
ed toward  the  poor  savages,  in  order  to  soothe 
their  sufferings,  and  win  their  souls  to  God. 
Father  Bax  was  born  on  the  15th  of  January, 
1817,  in  a  village  near  Turnhout,  in  Belgium. 
The  disease,  which  commenced  among  the  chil- 
dren of  themi  ssion.  spread  rapidly  throughout  all 
the  villages  of  the  tribe.  Father  Bax,  by  his 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  the  cures  which  he 
effected,  was  renowned  throughout  the  nation. 
The  savages  came  in  troops  from  every  side  10 
call  him  into  their  camps.  It  would  be  difficult 
to  form  an  idea  of  all  the  fatigues  he  was  obliged 
to  endure.  From  early  morning,  after  having 
given  some  assistance  to  the  children  of  the  mis- 
sion school,  he  would  go  into  the  environs,  from 
cabin  to  cabin,  bearing  gladness  and  comfort  in 
his  passage.  He  afterwards  would  turn  his  steps 
to  the  other  camps  of  the  nation,  to  offer  them 
the  same  blessings.     To  do  the  last,  it  became 


FATHER    BAX.  247 

necessary  to  employ  several  days,  and  endure 
very  heavy  fatigue  in  visiting  them.  The  zealous 
religious  administered  the  last  sacraments  to  the 
dying,  baptized  the  expiring  infants,  taught  the 
catechumens,  exhorted,  and  often  succeeded  in 
converting,  the  most  obstinate.  He  performed 
at  once  the  office  of  physician,  catechist,  and 
priest.  He  returned  to  the  house  of  the  mission- 
aries, exhausted  with  fatigue,  only  to  renew  on 
the  morrow  the  same  deeds  of  charity,  braving 
the  inclemency  of  the  seasons— the  frequent  rains 
of  spring,  the  sudden  and  overpowering  heat  of 
summer,  with  the  sudden  cold  which  succeeds  the 
heat  in  these  sections,  at  this  epoch  of  the  year. 

All  this  devotedness  was  not  capable  of  hinder- 
ing the  malice  of  some  enemies — let  us  rather 
say,  the  rage  of  hell,  irritated  at  the  view  of  so 
many  souls  rescued  from  its  grasp.  The  devil 
invented  against  the  excellent  missionary,  and 
against  the  whole  mission,  a  calumny, — extreme- 
ly ridiculous,  without  doubt,  in  the  eyes  of  the 
civilized,  but  entirely  in  accordance  with  Indian 
prejudices,  superstition,  and  credulity.  A  report 
was  spread  throughout  the  camps,  the  whites 
were  the  authors  of  the  scourge,  the  Black - 
gowns  (the  priests)  had  a  magical  charm,  vul- 
garly called  medicine,  which  killed  all  the 
Indians;  that  this  charm  was  a  certain  book,  in 
which  they  inscribed  the  names  of  the  Osages. 
and  thereby  obtained  a  power  of  life  or  death 
over  all  those  whose  names  the  book  contained. 
The  register  of  baptisms  was  meant.  They  hold 
the  superstitious  belief  that  whosoever  possesses 
a  book,  has  an  absolute  empire  over  the  life  of 
those  whose  names  are  written  in  it.  The  cal- 
umny spread  from  village  to  village,  in  all  the 
cabins ;  as  it  was  propagated,  its  details  assumed 
a  darker  hue.    The  malevolent  went  about  exhort- 


248  FATHER    BAX. 

ing  their  companions  to  attack  the  mission,  say- 
ing that  they  would  arrest  the  course  of  the 
malady,  if  they  could  attain  the  destruction  of 
the  terrible  magical  charm,  by  burning  the  en- 
chanted book  possessed  by  the  missionaries. 
This  absurd  tale  was  sufficient  to  engage  several- 
parents  to  withdraw  their  children  from  the  mis- 
sion school. 

Fortunately,  the  Black-gowns  had  influential 
friends  among  the  chiefs  of  the  Osages.  They 
went  no  farther — on  reasoning  with  the  most  in- 
telligent Indians,  they  succeeded  in  appeasing 
their  rage  and  ill-will.  The  Lord,  who  permits 
the  rising  of  the  tempest,  can  calm  it  at  his  own 
good  time ! 

Heaven  accorded  its  benedictions  to  the  ef- 
forts of  Father  Bax  and  his  companions  in  his 
painful  ministry.  Of  nearly  1500  savages,  who 
were  swept  away  by  the  epidemic,  all,  with  a 
very  few  exceptions,  had  the  happiness  of  being 
fortified  by  the  last  sacraments  of  the  Church 
before  dying.  Seized,  at  last,  himself  with 
symptoms  of  the  illness,  Father  Bax  continued 
his  ordinary  labors,  and  dragged  himself  around 
to  visit  the  sick  and  dying.  His  zeal  would  not 
suffer  him  to  attend  to  himself.  Strength  soon 
failed  him.  He  was  dying  while  still  laboring! 
He  was  obliged,  at  last,  to  consent  to  allow  him- 
self to  be  transported  about  forty  miles  from  the 
mission,  to  Fort  Scott,  a  military  post,  where 
one  of  the  most  skilful  physicians  of  the  United 
States  army  then  resided.  Tt  was  too  late ;  all  the 
cares  of  the  doctor,  proved  useless.  The  good 
religious;  the  indefatigable  missionary,  was  a 
fruit  ripe  for  heaven.  At  the  end  of  six  weeks 
he  died  as  he  had  lived.  His  last  aspirations 
showed  still  his  unfading  zeal  for  the  conversion 
of  his  dear  savages. 


I-ATIIKR    BAX.  249 

During  the  live  years  that  he  passed  in  the 
missions,  he  brought  back  to  the  faith  a  great 
number  of  half-bloods,  formerly  baptized  in  the 
Church,  but  for  want  of  priests  and  instructions, 
unfortunately  perverted  by  Protestant  ministers  ■ 
bedsides,  he  baptized  more  than  2000  Indians,  as 
well  children  as  adults,  of  every  age.  Hie  in- 
structed his  neophytes  with  the  greatest  care,  anrl 
the  most  pains-taking  assiduity.  His  charity  had 
so  gained  the  liearts,  that  all  these  savages  called 
him  only  by  the  beautiful  word,  which  in  the 
Osage  language  signifies,  "the  Father  who  is  all 
heart." 

His  death  excited  profound  regret.  His  fel- 
low-religious cherished  him,  and  hasd  always  been 
edified  by  his  example  and  his  virtues;  the 
whites  whom  he  visited  on  the  frontiers  of  the 
States,  whom  lie  fortified  and  encouraged  in  the 
abandonment  in  which  he  found  them,  loved  him 
as  a  protector:  but  his  loss  was  especially  felt  by 
the  tribe  which  he  evangelized  with  so  much 
constancy,  ardor,  and  success. 

Some  days  before  his  death.  Father  Bax  wrote 
me  as  follows : 

"The  contagion  is  spreading  among  the 
Indians,  and  the  mortality  is  very  great.  The 
difficulty  will  be.  to  collect  the  scattered  flock; 
however,  I  have  the  consolation  of  being  able  to 
say,  that  never  yet,  either  among  the  negroes,  or 
among  whites,  or  among  religious,  or  among 
persons  of  the  world,  have  I  ever  been  witness 
to  as  much  fervor  and  piety  on  the  bed  of  death. 
Edifving  is  the  death  of  which  our  young 
neophytes  have  given  the  example.  Some,  of 
their  own  free  will,  asked  to  hold  the  crucifix  in 
their  hands  ;  they  clasped  it  without  leaving  It 
for  more  than  two  hours.  The  statue  of  the 
Blessed  Virgiii  was  to  be  placed  by  their  pillows. 


250  FATHER    BAX. 

Imploring  the  assistance  of  their  good  Mother, 
they  fixed  their  dying  eyes  on  her  image.  I  have 
the  strong  hope  that  they  already  enjoy  the 
presence  of  God.  The  Lord  seems  to  wish  to 
gather  into  his  granary  the  little  that  we  have 
sowed  here  below.  What  may  be  the  designs  of 
his  Providence  for  the  future  of  our  mission, 
we  cannot,  and  we  dare  not  conjecture.  May 
His  holy  will  be  accomplished!" 

This  is  the  last  letter  I  had  the  happiness  of 
receiving  from  Father  Bax. 

The  Osage  nation,  like  the  greater  part  of  the 
other  tribes  of  the  Great  Western  Desert,  which 
were  formerly  so  numerous  and  flourishing,  is 
rapidly  dimishing  in  numbers.  It  is  now  reduced 
to  3000  souls,  and  divided  into  twelve  villages, 
situated  in  different  directions  around  the  centre 
of  the  mission.  Ordinarily,  the  Osages  dwell  or 
encamp  in  the  valleys  on  the  rivers,  or  near  some 
spring  of  pure  and  overflowing  water.  They  live, 
for  the  most  part,  as  in  the  primitive  times,  on 
the  roots  and  spontaneous  fruits  of  the  earth, 
and  the  animals  which  they  kill  in  the  chase. 

There  are  but  two  Fathers  to  visit  these  dif- 
ferent villages,  situated  at  the  distance  of  fifty 
and  seventy  miles  from  each  other.  The  toils 
and  fatigue?  of  the  holy  ministry  there  are  exces- 
sive. The  catechumens  must  be  instructed,  the 
neophytes  sustained,  the  sick  and  dying  visited, 
and  continual  efiforts  made  to  convert  obstinate 
adults.  Amid  so  many  obstacles,  so  many  priva- 
tions and  difiiculties,  the  missionaries  find  also 
sweet  consolations  in  the  fruits  which  the  Lord 
deigns  to  grant  to  their  labors.  Every  year  they 
baptize  among  the  Osages  about  two' hundred 
and  fifty  persons. 

The   missionaries   also   visit  the     neighboring 
tribes  such  as  the  Ouapaws,  who  number  only 


FATHER    BAX.  25I 

three  hundred  and  fifty,  and  of  whom  one  hund- 
red and  thirty  aduhs  and  children  have  been 
baptized  in  the  course  of  the  two  years.  Entire 
famihes  have  received  baptism  among  the  Piorias 
and  the  Miamis.  The  Senecas,  the  Cherokees, 
Creeics,  Shawnees,  and  other  nations,  situated 
two  hundred  miles  south  of  the  mission,  can  be 
visited  only  once  or  twice  in  the  year.  Notwith- 
standing the  opposition  of  Protestant  ministers, 
there  are  some  CathoUcs  among  all  these  tribes. 
A  great  number  of  European  Catholic  families 
live  dispersed  on  the  frontiers  of  the  States  of 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Texas,  which  border  on 
the  Indian  territory  now  called  Kansas.  They 
receive,  from  time  to  time,  the  visit  and  the 
spiritual  aid  of  one  or  other  Father  of  the  mis- 
sion of  St.  Francis  Plieronymo.  The  sight  of  a 
priest,  the  happiness  of  hearing  mass,  and  of 
approaching  the  holy  table,  draw^  tears  of  joy 
from  these  excellent  children  of  the  church. 
Without  these  visits  they  would  be  entirely 
abandoned.  The  destitution  of  priests  is  one  of 
the  principal  causes  of  the  delection  of  thousands 
of  Catholics,  v/ho  gradually  lose  their  faith. 

Two  boarding  schools  have  been  established 
in  the  mission  of  the  Osages :  one  for  boys,  under 
the  direction  of  a  Father  and  of  several  brothers; 
the  other  for  girls,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Sisters  of  the  Loretto,  from  Kentucky.  These 
two  schools  ordinarily  contain  more  than  a  hund- 
red Indians  children.  They  teach  them  the 
elements  of  literature,  with  the  principles  of 
civilization,  at  the  same  time  that  they  excite  and 
cultivate  piety  in  their  hearts.  These  schools 
encourage  the  hope,  that  the  day  will  come  when 
these  savage  tribes  may  become  changed  and 
civilized  and  Christian  communities.  It  will  be 
difficult,  above  all,  in  these  districts,  to  bring  the 


252  FATIIKR    BAX. 

abults  to  .this  mode  of  existence ;  they  are  too 
much  accustomed  to  the  nomadic  Ufe»  too  proud 
of  their  barbarous  independence,  and  frequently 
enslaved  to  the  degrading  vices  of  the  whites,  and 
to  the  immoderate  use  of  ardent  spirits,  v^hich 
they  easily  obtain  by  their  commerce  with  the 
latter,  and  in  their  frequent  visits  to  the  frontiers 
of  the  States.  Each  sincere  and  durable  conver- 
sion among  these  is  a  miracle  of  grace. 

The  United  States  government  grants  to  the 
Osages.  for  the  support  of  their  schools.,  an  an- 
nual subsidy,  accruing  from  the  sale  of  their 
lands.  This  assistance  being  insufficient,  and  in 
order  to  give  a  striking  testimony  of  attachment 
and  friendship  towards  the  Black-gowns,  all  the 
chiefs  of  the  nation  have  obtained,  by  treaty, 
from  the  government,  an  augmentation  of  funds 
destined  to  the  maintenance  of  the  schools; -and 
also  a  liberal  donation  for  making  provision  for 
the  other  necessities  of  the  mission.  The  mission 
owns  a  farm,  which  contributes  towards  defray- 
ing its  expenses.  With  all  this,  it  may  be  said, 
that  the  missionaries  are  still  obliged  to  live  a 
poor  and  hard  life,  in  the  midst  of  many  priva- 
tions. Yet  is  must  be  admitted,  that  the  mission 
among  the  Osages  is  established  on  a  tolerablv 
solid  footing. 

We  give  the  following  extract  from  the  annual 
message  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
in  1854.  The  agent  of  the  Osages.  in  his  report 
to  the  government,  speaking  of  this  nation,  says: 

''The  schools,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Fathers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  among  the 
Osages,  are  very  flourishing.  These  Fathers 
merit  great  eulogiums  for  their  endeavors  to 
ameliorate  the  condition  of  this  nation.  Having 
had  the  pleasure  of  assisting  at  the  examination 
of  their  scholars.  I  cheerfully  add  my  testimony 


;io 


m 


FATHER    BAX.  253 

to  that  of  others  in  favor  of  the  method  pursued 
in  these  estabHshments.  I  doubt  whether  there 
are  any  schools  in  the  Indian  territory  which 
exercise  so  salutary  an  influence  on  the  minds  of 
the  Indians,  or  that  can  even  be  compared  with 
them.  The  pupils  progress  rapidily  in  their 
studies ;  they  are  well  fed  and  well  clothed,  and 
appear  happy  and  satisfied. 

"The  Catholic  establishment,  as  well  as  the 
whole  nation  of  the  Osages,  have  met  with  an 
irreparable  loss  by  the  death  of  the  indefatigable 
Father  Bax.  The  most  rigorous  season  could 
never  hinder  him  from  visiting  the  most  remote 
tribes  of  the  nation,  when  there  was  question  of 
carrying  consolation  to  the  sick,  and  of  accom- 
plishing the  duties  of  his  sacred  ministry.*' 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PRESIDENTS    OF    ST.      FRANCIS      INSTITUTION. 

Father  Adrain  Sweere  was  the  second  presi- 
dent of  St.  Francis  School  at  the  Mission,  suc- 
ceeding Father  Schoenmakers  in  July  1876,  and 
serving  until  1880.  He  came  to  the  Mission 
from  Chicago, 

The  following  sketch  of  his  life  is  given  by. 
Eev.  L.  J.  Kenney,  S.  J.  of  St.  Louis  University: 

"Fr.  Adrain  Sweere  was  born  April  26,  1841 ; 
became  a  Jusuit  September  26,  1867;  and  died 
in  Portland  Oregon,  July,  1912.  I  knew  Father 
Sweere  well.  He  was  a  blond,  and  inclined  to- 
ward corpulency,  which  gave  him  a  look  of  good 
nature — which  he  really  had.  He  loved  the  work 
of  the  missions  and  when  the  Missouri  province 
ceased  for  a  time  to  have  missions,  he  asked  and 
obtained  permission  to  be  aggregated  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains  missions,  (now  the  California 
province.)  He  was  the  first  superior  of  the 
incipient  college  of  the  Society  in  Seattle;  but 
flying  again  from  the  colleges,  we  next  find  hira 
alone  at  Ketchikan,  Alaska,  with  Wrangle  as 
one  of  liis  stations.     This  was  in  1910." 

Father  John  T.  ^Kuhlman  S.  J.  was  the  third 
president  of  St.  Francis  Institution.  He  suc- 
ceeded Fr.  Sweere  in  t88o  and  served  until  his 
death  in  1887.  He  is  remembered  yet  by  many 
of  the  older  settlers  around  the  Mission. 

Fr.  Kuhlman  was  bom  at  Meisen,  Hanover 
Germany,  March  15,  1821.  He  began  his 
education  at  the  Gymnasium  at  Osnabruck,  re- 
(254) 


PREISIDENTS  OF  ST.  FILVNCIS'  INSTITUTION.  255 

maiiiing  there  for  nine  years.  In  1848  he  came 
to  America,  and  on  March  12,  1849,  joined  the 
Jesuit  order  at  St.  Louis.  He  studied  for  three 
years  in  the  St.  Louis  University  and  was  ordain- 
ed priest  in  1852.  He  was  sent  to  St.  Xavier's 
college,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  as  prefect  of  studies, 
retaining  that  position  five  years.  He  was  next 
sent  to  Bradstown,  Ky.,  to  fill  the  position  of 
professor  of  chemistry  and  natural  philosophy. 
Next  he  was  sent  to  Milwaukee,  as  director  of 
St.  Gall's  school.  After  three  years  he  was 
returned  to  Cincinnati  as  professor  at  St. 
Xavier's.  In  1873  he  was  sent  to  St.  Stanislaus 
Novitiate  at  Florissant,  Mo.,  as  procurator,  hold- 
ing that  position  until  he  came  to  Osage  Mission 
in  t88o  to  become  superior  of  the  Jesuit  Monas- 
tery and  president  of  St.  Francis  Institution. 

Father  Kuhlman's  first  big  undertaking  at) 
Osage  iMission  was  to  help  Father  Ponziglione 
complete  St.  Francis  church,  which  for  eight 
years  had  made  very  little  progress.  He  also 
caused  to  be  removed  the  old  log  buildings  which 
had  remained  as  relics  of  the  days  of  the  Indian 
schools.  He  labored  to  build  up  the  schools,  not 
only  by  increasing  the  number  of  students,  but 
also  by  the  addition  of  new  buildings  and  sub- 
stantial improvements. 

Father  Kuhlman  took  a  special  delight  in  help- 
ing poor  but  worthy  young  men,  and  there  are 
to  this  day  men  holding  important  positions 
whose  fitness  to  fill  the  places  may  be  traced  to 
aid  Father  Kuhlman  gave  them  in  obtaining  an 
education.  He  was  a  liberal  minded  man  and 
was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  the  people  of 
Osage  Mission  as  well  as  by  the  thousands  of 
pupils  who  attended  the  school  during  his 
presidency. 

A  few  days  before  Christmas  in  1886,  he  went 


256  PRESIDENTS  0?  ST.  :FRANC1S'  INSTITUTION. 

east  on  a  business  trip.  Whik  at  St.  Louis  con- 
sulting his  superiors  on  business  matters,  he  be- 
came seriously  ill  and  died  January  13,  1887.  For 
some  years  he  had  been  afflicted  with  consvunp- 
tion,  and  altho  suffering  constanty,  he  performed 
the  many  and  arduous  duties  of  his  double  office 
with  a  will  and  without  complaining.  He  was 
buried  at  St.  Stanislaus  Seminary,  Florissant, 
Mo. 

Father  J.  R.  Roswinkle  S.  J.  was  the  fourth 
president  of  St.  Francis,  serving  from  1887  ^<^ 
August  1889.  The  college  thrived  under  his 
management.  About  this  time  the  Jesuits  decid- 
ed to  discontinue  the  school,  and  Fr.  Roswinkle 
being  a  missionary  of  remarkable  ability,  was 
transferred  by  his  order  to  the  missionary  fields, 
where  he  still  remains.  He  is  at  present  regarded 
as  one  of  the  ablest  missionaries  in  America. 

Father  Boman  A,  Shaffel  S.  J.  was  the  last 
president  of  St.  Francis  Institution.  He  came  to 
Osage  Mission  during  the  summer  of  1889  as 
the  successor  of  Father  Roswinkle.  The  Jesuits 
had  decided  to  close  their  school  at  Osage  Mis- 
sion and  Father  Shaffel  was  selected  for  the 
purpose  of  closing  up  the  affairs  of  the  order 
and  the  school  and  disposing  of  the  property 
owned  by  the  Jesuits.  This  duty  he  performed, 
and  in  June  1891,  St.  Francis  Institution  ceased 
to  exist.    H^  returned  to  St.  Louis  in  1891. 

Father  Shaffel  was  born  in  Belgium,  August 
16,  1838,  and  joined  the  Jesuit  order  October  3, 
i860.  He  died  at  the  St.  Louis  University  May 
26,  1908. 


CHAPTER  XVi. 

OTHER    EARLY    JESUITS    AT    THE    MISSION 

Father  Adrain  J.  VaiiHulst  arrived  at  the 
Alission  from  St.  Louis,  October  29,  1852,10  take 
up  the  work  of  Father  Bax,  deceased.  He  was 
an  active  missionary  and  performed  many 
baptisms.  In  1853  ^^^  made  a  trip  into  Jasper 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  baptised  several 
white  people.  His  work  among  the  Indians  is 
well  told  on  page  150.  He  returned  to  St.  Louis 
October  14,  1854. 

Father  Theodore  Heimann  was  one  of  the 
early  teachers  in  the  school.  He  came  to  the 
Mission  about  1850  but  took  no  part  in  the  mis- 
sionary work.  In  1853  he  devoted  some  time  to 
parish  work  and  performed  a  number  of  bap- 
tisms. He  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  best 
teachers  Father  Schoemakers  had  and  the  schools 
made  rapid  progress  under  his  guidance.  He  left 
the  Mission  in  September  1855. 

(Father  J.  Logan  was  an  active  worker  at  the 
Mission  during  from  the  summer  of  1857  to  the 
spring  of  1858.  The  Mission  records  show  a 
large  amount  of  missionary  work  performed  by 
him  during  this  short  time.  His  health  failed 
in  1858  and  he  returned  to  St.  Louis  where  he 
died  July  4.  1858.  His  real  name  was  Van 
Lengenhage.  but  it  appears  as  Logan  on  the 
church  records  where  he  signed  it  himself. 

Father  James  C.  VanGoch  succeeded  Farther 
Logan  at  the  Mission,  arriving  August  25,  1858. 
Th^  records  of  St.  Francis  church  show  he  was 
(257) 


258     OTHER  EARLY  JESUITS  AT  AHE  MISSION. 

an  active  worker  in  1859,  for  during  that  year  he 
officiated  at  most  of  the  baptisms  performed  at 
the  Amission.  He  had  direct  charge  of  the  parish 
work  while  Father  Paul  looked  after  the  work 
in  the  Indian  villages  at  a  distance.  After  the 
civil  war  he  was  transferred  to  Milwaukee,  then 
to  Chicago.  He  then  spent  a  few  years  in  Europe 
returning  to  the  Mission  in  October  1877. 

Father  VanGoch  was  born  in  Holland,  October 
28,  1 83 1,  and  entered  the  Jesuit  order  November 
10,  1852.  On  August  II,'  1878,  he  suffered  a 
stroke  of  apoplexy,  but  recovered.  On  August 
24,  1878,  he  suffered  another  stroke  and  died  in 
a  few  minutes.  A  writer  in  describing  his  death 
said : 

"He  was  not  feeling  well  and  stayed  in  his 
room  in  consequence.  At  about  3  o'clock  in  the 
after  noon  he  was  heard  singing  with  much  sweet- 
ness and  fervor,  by  those  in  an  adjoining  room. 
On  their  stepping  in  it  was  seen  that  Father  Van- 
Goch was  laboring  under  some  undue  excite- 
ment and  he  almost  immediately  passed  into  an 
apoplectic  fit,  from  which  he  died  in  a  few 
minutes."  He  was  buried  in  the  Mission 
cemetery  near  Father  Bax. 

Father  J.  L.  Schoensettles  labored  at  the 
"Mission"  just  after  the  war.  The  church  re- 
cords show  he  did  much  of  the  parish  work  in 
1867.  He  signed  his  name  on  the  church  records 
as  T.  L.  Settles. 

Father  Philip  Colleton  was  among  the  most 
widely  kno^vn  Jesuits  located  at  the  Mission  at 
any  time  while  the  Jesuits  were  in  charge.  He 
was  born  in  Ireland.  March  17.  1821.  and  entered 
the  Jesuit  order  July  15,  t8s4-  He  came  to 
Osage  Mission  from  St.  Mary's,  Kansas,  in  t86S 
and  not  only  was  active  in  the  parish  work  hut 
he  shared  with  Father  Paul     the  labors    in  the 


OTHER  EARLY  JESUITS  AT  AHE  MISSION.     259 

missionary  tield,  and  built  many  churches  at 
points  not  far  distant.  On  June  12,  1870  he  laid 
the  corner  stone  of  a  new  church  at  Ladore,  then 
a  thriving  young  town  in  Neosho  County,  which 
has  since  ceased  to  exist.  On  June  19,  he  laid  the 
corner  stone  for  a  church  at  Montgomery  City> 
then  a  busy  Uttle  town  not  far  from  In- 
dependence. He  built  a  new  church  at  Walnut^ 
Kansas,  in  1871,  and  another  at  Parsons,  Kansas, 
in  the  spring  of  1873.  In  the  spring  of  1870  he 
organized  a  building  committee  and  started  a 
church  at  Oswego,  Kansas.        '    ^ 

There  is  a  legend  connected  with  the  churcff 
he  built  at  Greenbush,  about  ten  miles  east  of  the 
Mission.  Father  Colleton  was  returning  to  ther- 
Mission  from  a  trip  to  St.  Louis,  and  was  riding 
a  horse.  When  he  reached  the  point  where  the 
Greenbush  church  was  later  built,  a  severe  hail- 
storm came  up.  The  hail  >tones-  or  chunks  of 
ice  that  fell  were  very  large  and  endangered 
alike  the  life  of  man  and  beast.  Father  Colleton 
tied  his  horse  in  a  cluster  of  bushes,  and  taking 
off  the  saddle  put  it:  over  his  own  head  for  pro- 
tection. During  the  progress  of  the  furious 
storm  the  good  father  prayed  fervently  that  his 
life  might  l)e  spared  and  vowed  that  if  it  was 
spared  he  would  in  thanksgiving  erect  a  church 
on  the  spot.  Altho  his  limbs  were  somewhat 
bruised  by  the  falling  hailstones.,  he  suffered  no 
serious  injuries.  He  drove  a  stake  to  mark  the 
place  and  soon  after  made  good  his  vow  by  erect- 
ing a  small  frame  church  on  the  spot.  This  be- 
came the  center  of  a  Catholic  settlement,  and 
altho  it  is  some  distance  from  any  town  or  rail- 
road, a  magnificent  stone  church  with  a  resident 
priest  is  now  maintained  at  Greenbush.  In 
January  1876,  Father  Colleton  was  riding  on  a 
hand  car  when  he  was  badly  injured.     He  re- 


260     OTHER  EARLY  JESUITS  AT  AHE  MISSION. 

covered  sufficiently  to  resume  his  work,  but  he 
died  December  i,  1876,  from  the  result  of  that 
injury.  During  the  eight  years  he  was  stationed 
at  the  Mission  he  did  a  wonderful  amount  of 
work,  the  results  of  some  of  which  are  plainly 
evident  to  this  day.  He  was  buried  in  the 
cemetery'  near  the  Mission,  by  the  side  of  Father 
Bax. 

Brotlier  Thomas  O'Donnell  S.  J.  was  one  of 
the  active  spirits  connected  with  the  Mission 
school  for  twenty  years,  and  was  a  great  friend 
of  the  Osages.  He  came  to  the  Mission 
in  1857  and  served  in  many  capacities  at  th© 
school.  After  the  Osages  moved  to  Oklahoma 
he  ma^le  several  trips  each  year  to  the  reservation, 
«ach  time  bringing  back  with  him  a  large  number 
of  pupils  for  the  Mission  schools,  often  bring- 
ing as  many  as  fifty  Indian  children  at  one  time. 
He  continued  this  work  until  his  death  which  oc- 
curred at  the  Mission  October  24,  1877. 

Brother  O'Donnell  was  bom  in  Ireland 
December  25,  1820,  and  entered  the  Jesuit  order 
as  a  lay  brother  August  6,  1842. 

Father  William  Van  Der  Hagan  S.  J.  was  an 
active  little  priest  who  shared  the  parish  work 
at  St.  Francis  church  in  the  early  eighties.  He 
was  born  in  Holland,  January  30.  1843,  ^^^^^ 
entered  the  Jesuit  order  November  3,  1876. 
Little  is  known  of  his  early  life.  He  was  an 
energetic  worker  and  mixed  with  the  people  free- 
ly. On  July  29,  1885,  he  rode  his  horse  into  the 
Neosho  river  near  the  bridge  south  of  the  church, 
evidently  to  cool  off  the  horse,  as  it  was  very 
warm  weather,  and  there  was  a  bridge  across  the 
stream  near  by.  The  horse  began  plunging  and 
became  unmanageable  and  .the  Father  laid  down, 
on  the  animal  and  put  both  arms  around  its 
neck,  but  soon  after  loosened  his  hold  and  fell 


OTHER  EARLY  JESUITS  AT  AHE  MISSION.     261 

into  the  water.  I,t  is  believed  that  the  excite- 
ment had  caused  heart  failure  and  that  he  was 
dead  when  he  fell  from  the  horse.  He  was  buried 
in  the  cemetery  at  the  Mission,  near  Father 
Schoenmakers,  with  whom  he  had  been  as- 
sociated. 

Father  Joseph  M.  Rimmele  was  the  last  Jesuit 
to  leave  Osage  Mission.  After  .the  order  closed 
the  school  in  1891,  he  was  left  behind  to  close 
up  the  affairs  of  the  order.  He  left  the  Mission, 
in  August  1892,  going  ,to  Detroit,  Michigan, 
where  he  died  April  6,  1893. 

Father  Rimmele  was  born  in  Germany  August 
7,  1 83 1,  and  entered  the  Jesuit  order  July  18, 
1872.  He  came  to  Osage  Mission  in  the  early 
eighties,  to  take  the  position  of  vice  president  and 
general  manager  of  St.  Francis  Institution.  He 
was  also  a  teacher  of  Latin,  the  college  lecturer 
and  the  prefect  of  discipline.  Altho  one  of  the 
kindest  and  most  amiable  of  men,  he  had  a 
peculiar  faculty  of  being  able  to  spread  terror  in 
the  minds  of  those  boys  who  had  violated  the 
rules  of  the  Institution,  and  therefore  under  his 
management,  the  best  of  order  was  always  main- 
tained. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

ST.  FRANCIS'  CHURCH. 

''But  thou  of  temples  old,  or  altars  new, 

Sto.ndcst  alone,  ivitJi  nothing  like  to  thee. 

Worthiest  of  God,  the  holy  and  the  true} 

Since  Sion's  desolation,  when  that  He 

b\nrsook  Iiis  former  city,  n'hat  could  be 

Of  earthly  strictures,  in  His  honor  piled. 

Of  a  sub'liuier  aspect?..  Majesty, 

Power,  Glory,  Strength,  and  Beauty,  all  are  aisled 

In  this  eternal  ark  of  7Vorship  undefiled." — Id. 

St.  Francis  Church,  at  St.  Paul,  (Osage  Mis- 
sion) Kansas,  is  one  of  the  most  magnificent 
churcli  edifices  in  Kansas.  As  it  stands  it  repre- 
sents tlie  expenditure  of  nearly  a  hundred  thous- 
and <io11ars.  and  is  the  fulfilment  of  an  idea 
cherished  by  Fathers  vSchoenmakers  and  Ponzig- 
lione.  lender  their  direction,  Wm.  Murphy  drew 
the  plans  in  1871.  That  fall  the  work  of  quarry- 
ing and  hauling  the  stone  began.  Tn  the  spring  of 
1872,  the  foundation  was  laid  under  the  direction 
of  M.  Cavan^ugh,  and  on  the  23rd  of  June  1872, 
the  corner  stone  was  laid  by  Rt.  Rev.  P>ishop  L. 
M,.  Fink,  of  Leavenworth. 

The  Fathers  were  averse  to  incurring  much 
debt,  hence  the  (:onstruction  work  stopped  when 
the  fimds  were  exhausted  and  not  much  more 
was  done  on  the  building  until  1877.  when  a  lot 
more  stone  was  gotten  in  readiness.  This  prep- 
aration was  carried  on  more  or  less  each  year 
until  1 88 1  when  construction  work  was  resumed. 

r262) 


ST.    FRANCIS'    CHURCH.  263 

The  walls,  excq)t  the  tower,  were  completed  in 
August  1883.  Daniel  Zehner  and  Joseph  Doyle 
had  charge  of  this  work.  The  carpenter  work 
was  completed  on  June  21,  1884,  by  Louis 
Scheidler,  and  J.  N.  Cutler  and  John  Eisenman, 
his  assistants.  The  painting  was  done  by  Louis 
Bohrer. 

The  church  was  solemnly  dedicated  May  11, 
1884,  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Hogan,  Bishop  of  Kansas 
City.  Five  thousand  people  witnessed  the  cere- 
mony, many  of  whom  had  come  by  special  train 
from  Parsons  and  from  other  points. ^  Father 
Ponziglione,  who  had  done  much  to  aid  in  the 
construction  of  the  building,  was  the  celebrant  at 
the  Solemn  High  1^1  ass  on  this  occasion. 

[In  the  solidity  of  its  masonry  and  the  strength 
and  permanency  of  its  general  build,  this  edifice 
has  few  equals  if  any  in  the  state.  The  walls  are 
from  twenty-four  to  thirty  inches  thick  and  1)uilt 
of  sandstone.  Competent  judges  say  they  will 
stand  for  centuries. 

The  outside  dimensions  of  the  building  are 
75x150  feet.  The  wall  at  the  lowest  point  is  32 
and  at  the  gable  it  is  67  feet  above  the  floor.  The 
belfry  tower  is  also  of  stone,  24x24  feet  and  y,^ 
to  the  top  of  the  masonry,  on  which  three  bells 
rest.  The  upper  part  of  the  tower  is  iron  clad. 
The  total  height  of  the  tower  is  134  feet. 

A  better  idea  of  the  vastness  of  St.  Francis 
church  may  be  conceived  when  it  is  known  that 
it  required  740,000  shingles  to  cover  the  roof  and 
100  car  loads  of  sand  to  prepare  the  mortar  with 
which  the  stone  was  laid  in  the  walls,  and  twenty 
car  loads  more  for  the  plaster.  The  total  cost 
of  the  lime  and  sand  used  in  the  building  was 
$3,980,  of  the  lumber  for  the  tower  and  the  in- 
side work  $6,700,  nails  and  hardware  used 
$1,600.     The  foundation  on  which     the     church 


264  ST.   :fRANCIS'   CHURCH. 

Stands  cost  $7,000,  a  sum  sufficient  in  itself  to 
erect  rather  a  large  building.  $16,576  was  paid 
out  for  the  masons'  wages,  $4,500  for  carpenters' 
wages,  and  $2,370  for  plasterers'  wages.  The 
doors  and  windows  alone  cost  $5,800. 

These  are  exclusive  of  the  altars,  statues,  heat- 
ing  appliances,  organ,  bells  and  ekctrical  equip- 
ment. 

The  interior  of  ,the  church  is  in  keeping  with 
the  exterior.    C.  H.  tloward,  in  1884,  wrote  this: 

"Entering  the  vast  structure  one  is  struck  with 
not  only  the  massiveness  but  as  well  by  the  artistic 
grace  of  the  work,  which  bursts  upon  the  vision 
like  a  beautiful  scene  in  fairyland.  The  long 
rows  of  suporting  columns  on  either  hand,  down 
which  one  looks  as  through  a  vista  of  years  in 
memory's  hall,  are  magnificent  specimens  of 
skilled  work ;  while  the  frescoed  ceiling  and  fine 
arches  spanning  various  spaces  and  niches  are 
marvels  of  beauty  in  design  and  execution,  and 
speak  eloquently  of  the  architects  and  artisans 
who  conceived  and  executed  the  fair  creation." 

If  Mr.  Howard  could  visit  the  St.  Francis 
Church  of  today  he  would  be  amazed  at  the 
wc>r;derful  changes  that  have  been  made,  and 
these  changes  have  but  added  to  the  beauty,  com- 
fort, and  usefulness  of  this  wonderful  edifice. 
The  great  altar,  radiant  with  splendor,  nor  tlic 
side  altars,  proportionately  magnificent,  were  not 
there  then.  Neither  were  the  elegant  statues  of 
saintly  men  and  of  the  Holy  Mother  that  now 
adorn  the  niches  of  these  altars,  adding  much  to 
their  beauty,  and  inspiring  the  silent  worshipers 
who  frequently  assemble  there,  to  imitate  the  holy 
lives  of  the  saints  these  statues  represent.  The 
three  statues  on  the  large  altar,  representing  St. 
Francis  De  Hieronymo,  the  patron  saint  of  the 
church,     and     St.     John     Berchman     and     St. 


ST.    FRANCIS'   CHURCH.  205 

Alphonsus,  were  imported  directly  from  Paris  in 
1888,  and  are  counted  among  the  finest  in  point 
of  workmanship  and  art,  in  the  United  States. 

Three  bells  hang  in  the  tower,  the  largest  one 
being  the  Schoenmakers  memorial  bell,  weighing 
3000  pounds  and  measuring  forty-six  and  one 
half  inches  in  diameter.  It  was  blessed  and  rais- 
ed into  its  present  position  December  8,  1883.  It 
bears  these  inscriptions: 

"S.  Francise  De  Hieronymo  Ora  Pro  Nobis  A. 
D.  1883." 

*'D.  O.  M.    In  memoriam  Patris  Joanis  Schoen-  ' 
makers,  Qvi   Missione  Osaginia  Fvndata   A.  D. 
1847,  Obeit  In  Pace    Christi    Dec.  28,  iVIII  A. 
D.  1883." 

Jn  the  gallery  is  a  magnificent  pipe  organ,  a 
marvel  for  its  fine  mellow  tone,  placed  there  in 
November  1898  thru  the  efforts  of  Father  Peter 
Hanley  C.  P. 

In  the  basement  is  a  chapel  with  a  seating 
capacity  equal  to  that  of  many  churches. 

In  1909  this  immense  building  was  raised  three 
feet  and  a  new  foundation  put  under  it.  a  feat  of 
engineering  skill  at  that  time  considered  some- 
what marvelous. 

Should  Fathers  Schoenmakers  and  Ponziglione 
gaze  down  from  heaven  now  upon  this  grand 
church  which  they  labored  so  faithfully  to  con- 
struct, they  could  not  but  feel  a  sense  of  gratifica- 
tion and  pride,  and  ,they  would  utter  a  prayer  of 
thanksgiving  that  the  object  of  their  labors  had 
been  so  fully  realized  and  brought  to  such  a  grand 
consumation. 

FATHER  PAUL  WRITES  OE  ST.  ERANCIS'  CHETRCH. 

St    Ignatius    College.    Chicago,    Oct.    28,    '98. 
Editor  Journal — Tn  reply  to  your  favors  of  the 


266  ST.   FRANCIS'   CHURCH. 

i8tii  iiist.  1  enclose  with  the  present  an  historical 
abridgement  of  St.  Francis  Church  at  Osage  Mis- 
sion now  St.  Paul,  Neosho  county,  Kansas. 

It  was  in  April  1847  that  the  first  Roman 
Catholic  Church  was  opened  by  Father  John 
Schoenniakers  in  one  of  the  two  log  houses  the 
Indian  Department  had  put  up  for  the  use  of  the 
Osage  r\]ission  School,  then  inaugurated  by  the 
same  Father.  But  oh  how  small  it  was!  indeed 
hardly  large  enough  to  accommodate  the 
domestics.  Falue.-  Schoenmakers  saw  at  once  the 
necessity  of  building  a  large  one,  not  only  for  the 
use  of  the  }>Iission,  but  also  of  the  people  forming 
our  congregation.  As  in  the  woodland  close  by, 
one  coukl  at  that  time  find  a  great  many  very 
large  trees,  so  the  needed  logs  having  been  cut 
down,  a  building  was  very  soon  erected  30x35 
feet  wide,  arising  16  feet  from  the  ground  having 
a  roof  with  a  pediment  of  10  feet,  surmounted 
by  a  nice  cross.  The  locality  chosen  for  this 
church  was  the  spot  of  ground  now  standing  be- 
tween the  two  stc-ne  houses,  the  residence  of  the 
Passionist  Fathers  and  the  school  house. 

The  size  of  this  structure  answered  very  well 
for  a  few  years,  the  number  of  Catholics  then 
living  about  the  INfission  being  rather  small.  But 
the  ])artial  o])ening  of  Kansas  Territory  to  the 
white  settlers  in  1853  soon  called  for  some  en- 
largement. The  news  that  our  Mission  was  oflfer- 
ing  great  convenience  for  church  and  school 
privileges  had  spread  all  over  the  country,  and 
thoiLgh  the  Osage  Reservation  had  not  as  yet  been 
opened,  many  Catholic  settlers  came  to  squat 
along  the  Indian  lands,  not  very  far  from  us,  and 
as  the  O sages  were  kind  to  them,  some  of  these 
wovM  come  regrlarly  to  Mas^'.  on  Sundays,  and 
others  would  send  their  children  to  our  schools. 

This  state  of  affairs  compelled  Father  Schoen- 


ST.   FRANCIS'   CHURCH.  26/ 

makers  to  make  additions  to  the  church  as  well 
as  to  our  houses  for  the  accommodation  of  strang- 
ers. But  the  number  of  Cathohc  settlers  being 
still  increasing,  more  room  was  needed  in  the 
church,  and  the  Father  returning  to  work  erected 
a  large  addition  in  front  of  it,  doubling  altogether 
its  area,  which  now  became  70x35  feet. 

The  best  claims  near  us  having  been  taken  up, 
the  Catholic  settlers  began  to  spread  in  the  ad- 
joining counties,  and  though  these  could  not  come 
to  Mass  on  every  Sunday,  they  would  try  to  come 
once  in  a  while  to  attend  to  their  religious  duties, 
the  result  being  that  our  congregation  kept  swel- 
ling, and  frequently  our  church  could  not  al¥ord 
room  for  all. 

What  was  to  be  done  ?  Father  Schoenmakers 
saw  that  it  was  useless  to  make  any  more  ad- 
ditions to  it,  and  that  the  best  would  be  to  start 
the  buikling  of  a  large  stone  church.  However 
as  it  was  evident  that  it  would  take  considerable 
time  to  realize  this  very  good  idea,  he  thought 
ad  visible  to  put  up  here  and  there  small  chapels 
or  Missionary  stations,  as  we  used  to  call  them, 
in  different  districts  which  might  be  monthly  at- 
tended by  some  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Mission ;  in 
this  way  he  provided  for  the  convenience  of 
those,  who  on  account  of  distance  could  not  come 
to  us. 

The  excitement  created  by  the  news  that  Father 
Schoenmakers  was  going  to  build  a  large  stone 
clmrch  spreading  around,  brought  us  quite  a 
number  of  Catholic  settlers,  especially  of  good 
m.echanics.  of  whom  we  were  very  much  in  need. 
But  whence  was  the  money  to  come  from  ?  The 
only  chance  we  had  for  getting  any.  was  by  ap- 
plving  to  the  old  system  of  making  collections. 
The  people  had  not  much  to  spare,  but  they  were 
of  good  will  and  contributed  liberally. 


268  ST.   fRANClS''   CHURCH. 

Between  what  had  been  collected  at  home,  and 
in  the  neighboring  sta^tes,  and  even  in  Europe, 
the  amount  was  found  to  be  sufficient  to  justify 
the  Father  is  setting  hand  to  this  great  undertak- 
ing. The  job  was  entrusted  to  Mr.  Kavanaugh 
an  expert  builder.  He  laid  in  deep  and  solid 
foundations,  and  in  a  short  time  brought  up  the 
work  to  the  water  table,  showing  that  the  area  of 
the  church  would  be  140x70  feet.  This  done  Rt. 
Rev.  iwouis  i\I.  Fink  D.  D.  O.  S.  B.  Bishop  of 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  was  invited  to  come  to 
consecrate  the  corner  stone,  a  thing  which  he  did 
perform  w^ith  solemnity  on  the  23rd  of  June  1872. 

But  now  the  treasury  was  empty,  what  was  to 
be  done  ?  Some  advised  Father  Schoenmakers  to 
borrow  about  60  thousand  dollars  and  finish  the 
work,  otherwise  the  mechanics  would  leave  the 
country,  and  it  would  be  difficult  for  us  to  find 
others  as  good,  when  the  building  would  be  re- 
sumed. The  Father  after  serious  consideration, 
concluded  to  suspend  all  the  work,  rather  than  to 
over-charge  the  congregation  with  so  heavy  a 
debt,  which  would  be  a  crushing  tax  on  our  poor 
people,  and  this  for  years  to  come. 

Meanwhile  the  several  chapels,  or  missionary 
stations  erected  in  dif¥erent  districts  began  to  im- 
prove, and  in  a  few  years  became  the  nucleus  of 
rich  towns  and  cities.  These  small  places  of  wor- 
ship we  attended  by  turn,  as  regularly  as  circum- 
stances would  allow,  to  the  great  convenience  of 
our  settlers,  who  in  a  pressing  need,  knew  where 
to  apply  for  a  priest. 

Here  I  would  be  too  long  if  I  would  give  the 
names  of  all  the  Catholic  settlements  that  from 
the  year  1853  to  1886  were  gradually  formed  by 
families  branching  out  of  them  All  that  I  can 
state  from  old  records  is,  that  the  fathers  issuing 
from  St.  Francis  church  to  the  daily  multiplying 


#3„ 


FRONT    VIEW    OF    ST.    FRAXCIS'    CHURCH.    I9T2. 


ST.   FRANCIS'   CHURCH.  269 

missionary  stations,  had  a  very  big  task  before 
them,  and  were  kept  travehng  most  all  the  time 
under  great  difficulties.  Their  line  of  excursions 
beginning  from  the  southeast  comer  of  Cherokee 
County,  was  going  as  far  north  as  to  Miami 
county,  from  that  point  turning  westward  would 
extend  as  far  as  to  Ft.  Larned  in  Shawnee  Coun- 
ty. Next  coming  down  to  the  counties  along  the 
state  line,  having  visited  these  they  would  return 
to  St.  Francis  church.  It  was  indeed  a  slow,  and 
laboring  work,  but  with  great  courage  they  kept 
on,  and  deserved  the  honor  of  having  been  the 
first  priests  that  brought  the  good  tidings  of  the 
Gospel  in  30  of  the  counties  included  in  the  ter- 
ritory just  described. 

Besides  they  also  now  and  then  would  visit  the 
Indian  Territory  south  of  Kansas,  forming  mis- 
sionary stations  at  the  Indian  Agencies  as  well 
as  at  the  military  posts,  as  far  as  to  Ft.  Sill  near 
to  the  line  of  Texas. 

This  being  so  I  hope  nobody  will  blame  me  if 
I  claim  for  St.  Francis  church  the  title  of 
Metropolitan  Church,  because  from  the  year  1847 
to  1886  it  has  been  a  prolific  mother  of  churches 
and  missionan.^  stations,  all  together  amounting 
to  108 :  of  these  87  in  southern  Kansas,  and  21  in 
the  Indian  Territory. 

At  last  in  1883  ^mder  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Louis  Scheidler  the  stone  work  of  the  new  church 
was  neatly  finished  to  the  roof,  with  the  exception 
of  the  tower  which  was  stopped  at  the  heighth  of 
100  feet  from  the  ground. 

It  was  the  most  ardent  desire  of  everyone  that 
Father  Schoenmakers  who  had  taken  so  much 
interest  in  promoting  the  good  of  Osage  Mission, 
could  see  tjie  completion  of  this  his  last  work. 
All  wished  to  see  him  blessing  the  new  church 
and  celebrating  in  it  the  first  Mass,  but  it  .was  the 


270  ST.    FRANCIS     CHURCH. 

Will  of  God,  to  call  him  to  his  reward  before  the 
roof  could  be  laid  over  it.  He  died  full  of  merits 
for  heaven  on  the  28th  of  July  1883,  having 
reached  the  77th  year  of  his  age. 

The  finishing  of  the  new  church  caused  great 
joy  amongst  the  Catholic  settlers,  who  not  satisti- 
ed  of  having  liberally  contributed  to  its  building, 
now  wanted  to  have  an  extra  collection  to  be 
taken  up,  for  the  procuring  of  a  memorial  bell, 
that  for  many  years  to  come,  might  with  its 
harmonious  peals,  call  to  the  mind  of  the  people 
the  sweet  memory  of  dear  Father  Schoenmakers. 
This  collection  was  a  financial  success.  No  one 
even  Protestants,  refusing  their  mites;  yes  the 
ver3'  full  blood  Osages  from  the  plains  of  Okla- 
homa, sent  in  their  rich  contribution.  The  bell 
which  carries  the  name  of  the  father  on  it,  was 
cast  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  weighs  about  3000  lbs., 
and  ^560.  00  were  paid  for  it. 

Though  everyone  can  but  admire  St.  Franc's 
church,  people  are  yet  to  be  found,  who  will  make 
objections  to  its  size,  saying  that  it  is  too  large 
for  the  place.  Well  this  same  objection  was 
made  to  the  Father  when  he  started  the  building 
of  it.  Now  to  all  those  who  repeat  it,  I  can  but 
ofive  the  answer  the  Father  then  gave  to  others. 
The  TTOod  Father  smiling  replied  to  them,  that 
time  would  answer  to  their  objection.  And  in 
fact  the  answer  came  on.  the  nth  of  May  1884, 
when  Rt.  Rev.  John  Ho?fan  D.  D.  Bishop  of 
Kansas  City,  Mo.  solemnly  dedicated  the  New 
Church  to  God  under  the  invocation  of  St. 
Francis  De  Hieronymo.  On  that  occasion,  as 
well  as  on  subsequent  ones,  the  building  was  filled 
up  to  its  utmost  caoacity,  so  that  many  could  not 
get  admission  into  it. 

This  is  in  short  the  history  of  St.  Francis 
Church  at  Osage  Mission.     I  would  not  be  sur- 


ST.    FRANCIS    CHURCH.  27I 

prised,  if  here  some  might  say,  what  is  the  use 
to  talk  so  much  about  Osage  Mission  since  it  does 
no  longer  exist,  and  St.  Paul  has  taken  its  place? 
Yes  I  know  it  has  and  in  my  opinion,  should  be 
proud  of  it,  for  it  has  also  taken  as  an  inher- 
itance, a  great  glory  that  no  other  town  of  south- 
ern Kansas  can  claim,  namely  of  being  the  pio- 
neer town  of  southern  Kansas,  the  first  town  in 
which  a  church  was  erected  in  honor  of  God  and 
schools  were  opened  for  the  education  of  youth. 

Yes  as  long  as  the  Memorial  Bell  will  stand  on 
St.  Francis  tower,  its  inscription  in  clear  bronze 
letters  will  show  that  Father  Schoenmakers  was 
the  one  who  built  Osage  Mission  in  1847,  proving 
by  it  that,  though  he  was  a  Jesuit,  he  by  no  means 
was  an  enemy  to  progress,  on  the  contrary,  was 
a  strong  promoter  of  civilization. 

The  present  condition  of  St.  Paul  may  not  as 
yet  be  what  some  might  wish.  I  know  it,  and 
with  many  of  my  old  friends  must  say,  that  there 
is  left  room  for  many  improvements.  But  the 
surrounding  country  being  most  excellent,  the 
fertility  of  the  soil  being  inexhaustible,  the  salu- 
brity of  its  climate  having  few  equals,  there  is 
no  doubt,  that  in  the  near  future  St.  Paul  will  be- 
come one  of  the  best  towns  in  southern  Kansas. 

Long  life  therefore  and  prosperity  may  the 
Lord  grant  to  the  town,  which  though  bereaved 
of  its  primitive  name,  has  not  lost  the  glory  in- 
separable from  it,  and  is  as  dear  to  me  this  day, 
as  it  was  when  it  used  to  be  called  Osage  Mission. 
Paul  M.  Ponziglione.  S.  J. 

THE   OLD   LOG   CHURCH. 

The  old  log  church  at  the  Osage  ^fission  was 
one  of  the  first  churches  erected  on  Kansas  soil. 
In  fact  there  was  no  Kansas  when  this  building 
was  first  used.     Kansas  had  not  even    been    or- 


^72  ST.    FRANCIS    CHURCH. 

ganized  as  a  territory  when  this  crude  little 
structure  was  completed  in  1847.  -^^  ^^^^  it  was 
a  small  building  made  of  hewn  logs  with  a  clap- 
board roof,  and  "puncheon"  floor.  The  altar  was 
''home  made."  The  pews  were  split  logs  with  peg 
legs.  The  silent  worshipers  at  first  were  the 
"red  men  of  the  prairies,"  with  an  occasional 
white  man  who  had  "strayed  across  the  borders 
of  civilization." 

The  fervor  of  the  Jesuit  fathers  week  by  week 
attracted  greater  numbers  of  the  Osages  to  at- 
tend the  services  until  the  building  became  too 
small,  and  it  was  enlarged  by  removing  one  end 
and  building  an  extension,  much  like  two  build- 
ings standing  end  to  end  with  a  jog  in  the  walls  at 
the  junction  to  give  them  strength.  With  the 
coming  of  the  white  man,  this  too  became  too 
small  and  the  great  St.  Francis  Church  was  built 
to  take  its  place. 

Modest  as  was  this  little  log  church  it  was  the 
center  of  Christianity  in  Southeastern  Kansas 
as  well  as  among  the  Osages.  Sermons  preached 
within  its  walls  exerted  a  powerful  influence 
over  the  Osages.  The  first  were  preached  in  the 
Osage  language  and  the  most  urgent  appeals 
were  made  to  them  to  lead  better  lives,  and  to 
adopt  the  ways  of  the  Christian.  They  were  not 
without  a  telling  efifect,  as  related  by  the  his- 
torians of  the  tribe. 

This  building  was  torn  down  in  1888  and  was 
the  last  of  the  old  "Mission"  buildings  to  disap- 
pear. This  event  was  considered  of  sufficient  im- 
portance from  an  historical  standpoint  by  the  St. 
Louis  daily  papers  that  they  gave  it  prominent 
mention. 

The  writer  had  the  privilege  of  "serving"  many 
Miasses  for  Father  Schoenmakers,  Ponziglione 
and  Kuhlman  in  this  old  log  church. 


CHAMER  XiVIII. 

SISTERS  OF  LORETTO  AMONG  THE  OSAGES. 

"They  had  labored   for  Cod, 
Far  from  the  homes  they  had  loved  so  -well; 
And  naught  was  near  that  they  longed  to  hear, 
Save  the  sound  of  the  beads  and  the  convent  bell, 
When  their  race  -was  run  and    their   zuork    was 

done. 
They  passed  artvay-the  true,  the  brave; 
But  God  knows  best,  they  now  find  rest 
Near  the  college  home  in  a  lonely  grave." 

When  the  Jesuits  took  the  contract  to  educate 
the  Osages,  it  included  females  as  well  as  boys, 
and  this  brought  Father  Schoenmakers  face  to 
face  with  a  problem.  The  Jesuits  are  noted 
educators  of  boys,  but  they  had  had  no  experience 
with  girls,  and  even  if  they  had.  there  were  not 
sufficient  teachers  among  their  members  at  the 
"Mission"  to  do  the  work.  The  Father  therefore 
set  about  to  get  Sisters  to  take  charge  of  the 
females  at  the  schools.  He  told  the  story  himself 
of  how  ''in  vain  I  knocked  at  all  the  religious 
homes  in  St.  Louis.  None  of  the  inmates  coul<i 
be  found  willing  to  come  out  to  the  wilds  of 
Kansas."  At  last  he  applied  to  the  Mother  house, 
of  the  Sisters  of  Loretto.  in  Kentucky,  and  in 
response  to  his  request  four  sisters  were  assigned 
to  the  work  among  the  Osages  and  instructed  to 
proceed  to  the  "Mission"  at  once.  The  four  who 
came  to  the  Osages  in  1847  were  Sister  Concordia 
Henning,  who  was  appointed  superior  at  the  Mis- 
(273) 


274  SISTERS  OF  LORETTO. 

sion,  Sister  Bridget  Hayden,  afterwards  known 
as  Mother  Bridget,  Sister  Mary  Van  Prather,  and 
Sister  Viencentia  Van  Cool.  Sisters  Felicita  and 
Mary  Regis  joined  them  at  the  Mission  a  year  or 
two  later. 

These  pioneer  sisters  made  the  same  perilous 
trip  from  St.  Louis  the  good  fathers  had  made  a 
they  reached  their  destination.  They  were  the 
tions  and  hardships  both  on  the  trip  and  after 
they  reached  their  distination.  They  were  the 
first  white  women  to  venture  this  far  into  the 
prairie  country,  the  habitation  of  the  Red  men 
and  of  wnld  beasts.  It  required  great  courage  to 
make  such  trip  and  to  face  such  problems  and 
hardships  as  confronted  these  four  pioneer 
sisters. 

The  date  of  the  arrival  of  the  Sisters  of 
Loretto  among  the  Osage s  is  said  to  be  October 
5,  1847.  They  began  enrolling  pupils  for  their 
school  on  October  10.  The  first  pupil  enrolled 
was  Elizabeth  Brond  and  the  second  was 
Elizabeth  Mitzegge.  Father  Schoenmakers,  in 
reporting  the  opening  of  this  school  to  Rev. 
Father  Van  De  Welde,  provincial  at  St.  Louis, 
said :  Five  female  children  entered  the  school 
placed!  under  the  care  of  the  sisters.  Twenty 
girls  are  waiting  for  the  commencement  which 
is  deferred  till  the  25th  of  October  when  it  is 
expected  that  our  goods  purchased  for  their  ac- 
commodation shall  have  arrived  from  Kansas." 

This  was  the  first  boarding  school  for  girls 
having  any  degree  of  permanency,  established  on 
Kansas  soil. 

The  Indians  held  the  Sisters  in  the  highest 
esteem  and  were  always  ready  to  protect  them 
from  all  harm.  It  is  said  that  for  years  the 
Indians  believed  that  the     Sisters    came    down 


SISTERS  OF  LORETTO.  2^^ 

direct  from  the  abode  of  the  Great     Spirit     for 
their  especial  good. 

Some  of  the  conditions  which  confronted  the 
sister^  during  the  hrst  winter  may  be  inferred 
from  the  following  report  made  by  Father 
Schoenmakers  to  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Indian 
aftairs : 

"Ten  Osage  girls  have  entered  the  school.  The 
reason  is  because  the  Indians  with  their  families 
had  gone  to  the  hunting  grounds  before  the 
ladies  under  whose  care  the  Osage  female  chil- 
dren have  been  placed  were  prepared  to  receive  a 
large  number.  The  ladies  as  well  as  ourselves 
have  much  reason  to  complain  of  the  buildings. 
They  are  unfinished  and  will  be  too  small 
Major  Harvey  had  promised  us  that  the  houses 
would  be  weathterboarded  and  the  ceilings  and 
chimneys  renewed,  etc.  Winter  has  come  upon 
us.  We  must  now  endure  the  coW  winds  of  the 
open  prairies.  We  have  no  means  of  providing 
for  ourselves  and  the  children.  Our  only  con- 
solation rests  in  the  good  progress  which  the 
children  have  already  made.  They  begin  to 
esteem  the  treasure  of  learning  and  civilization. 
We  hope  a  sub-agent  w^ill  soon  be  appointed  who 
will  immediately  execute  the  good  intention  of  the 
Department.  J.    Schoenmakers.   S.   J. 

The  Sisters'  school  had  much  the  same  class 
of  "ups  aTxi  downs"  as  the  boys'  school  during 
the  early  days.  It  had  its  scourge  of  the  measles 
in  1852,  and  had  its  troubles  during  the  perilous 
times  of  the  bonder  warfare  anrl  civil  war,  altho 
the  guerillas  did  not  at  any  time  d.isvurb  the 
property.  It  had  its  battles  to  fight  against 
poverty  and  the  bleak  winds  of  winter  in  poor 
quarters.  Rut  the  brave  little  band  of  sisters  who 
had  the  courage  to  come  into  the  then  wilderness, 
also  had  the  courage  to  face  the  problems  that 


276  SISTERS  OF  LORETTO.  ' 

were  to  come  and  they  did  it  with  a  will  without 
a  munnur,  and  with  a  steadfastness  that  was  a 
shining  example  to  the  pioneer  settlers  who  came 
to  make  their  liomes  near  the  Mission. 

The  school  was  directly  under  the  charge  of 
Mother   Concordia  Henning   from  its   inception 
until  1859,  and  Father  Schoenmakers  found  her 
services  of  inestimable  value  during  the  times 
when  even  the  courage  of  sturdy  men  was  sorely 
tried.     Thru  her  influence  many  of  the  Indian 
girls  were  led  into  the  church  and  the  baptismal 
records  of  St.  Francis  church  show  she  was  the 
God-mother  of  many  of  the     Indians     baptised 
there  in  the  early  days.    There  is  however  a  limit 
to  the  endurance  of  the  human  system     and     in 
1859,  failing  health  caused  Mother  Concordia  to 
relinquish  her  position  as  superior  of  the  school 
to  Sister  Bridget  Hayden  who  had  been  her  most 
faithful  companion,  assistant  and  co-worker  from 
the  time  they  started  on  their  western  trip  to  the 
"Mission."     Mother  Concordia  remained  at  the 
school  in  a  minor  capacity  until  after  the  opening 
of  the  civil  war,  and  continued  to  assist  in  the 
school  and  church  work.     The  church     records 
mention  her  as  God-mother  at  a  baptism  as  late 
as  October  6,  1861.    About  this  time  she  went  to 
Kentucky  and  remained  there  until  her  death. 
St.  Ann's  Acade:my  Established. 
When  the  white  settlers  began  to  arrive  the 
enrollment  of  the  schools  increased  and  the  num- 
ber of  sisters  was  increased  proportionately,  until 
1868  when  there  were  eleven  sisters  at  the  Mis- 
sion, most  of  whom  v/ere  employed  in  the  school. 
Gradually  the  whites  supplanted  the  Indians  in 
the  school,  and  Mother  Bridget  foresaw  a  brighti 
future  for  a  permanent  academy  and  in  1870  and 
T871  she  had  the  three-story  stone  building  erect- 
ed that  so  long  served  as  the  main  building  of  the 


SISTERS  OF  LORETTO.  2/7 

academy.  This  was  the  first  stone  bviikhiig  con- 
structed at  either  of  the  Mission  Schools  and  at 
that  time  was  the  largest  stone  building  in  South- 
eastern Kansas.  Some  years  later  this  building 
was  changed  to  a  four-story  building  by  the  ad- 
dition of  a  mansard  roof.  On  September  19, 
1870  the  school  was  chartered  under  the  laws  of 
Kansas  as  St.  Ann's  Academy.  In  1881  the 
second  large  stone  building  was  erected  just  south 
of  the  first. 

An  unknown  writer  in  the  Neosho  County 
Journal,  July  1874,  in  commenting  on  the  work 
of  St.  Ann's,  said : 

"St.  Ann's  Academy  rightly  enjoys  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best  educational 
institutions  in  the  West.  It  has  from  its  founda- 
tion in  this  city,  under  the  able  management  of 
Mother  Bridget,  received  no  inconsiderable  share 
of  public  favor  and  patronage. 

''Thanks  to  the  enduring  energies  and  sincere 

piety  of  the  humble  yet  noble  ladies,    who    like 

angelical  beings,  devote  themselves  to  uproot  the 

weeds  of  ignorance  and  vice,  and  plant  the  seeds 

of  knowledge  and  virtue  in  the  youthful  mind; 

for  these  safe  institutions  in  which  parents  can 

safely  entrust  their  children,  and  secure  for  them 

that  intellectual  and  moral  training,  which  their 

best  interests  in  after  life  imperatively  demand. 

''Only  a  few  years  ago,  in  their  locality,  where 

'Many  a  flozver  zms  born  to  blush  unseen,^ 

And  zvaste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air! 

"  And  what  a  transition !    Blest  now  with  one 

of  these  institutions,  famed  for  developing  and 

cultivating  the  most  precious  flowers  that  adorn 

and  beautify  the  face  of  nature;  giving  to  them 

that  culture  which  distinguishes  the  enlightened 

from  the  inferior  portions  of  mankind,  without 

which  the  poor  are  indeed  truly  poor,  and  the 


2/8  SISTKRS  OF  LORKTTO. 

rich  by  indulging  in  their  animal  passions,  become 
bare  like  the  beasts  which  they  imitate.  Many  a 
wild  flower  has  it  also  rescued  from  the  parching 
and  blithing  influence  of  the  desert  air,  to  be- 
come after  due  culture,  like  the  chosen  few 
beautiful  and  superior  roses  in  the  garden  of  the 
Lord,  adding  sweetness  to  its  enduring  aroma, 
and  influencing  to  the  better  the  surrounding 
element,  until  transplanted  by  the  hand  of  the 
Creator  to  brighter  regions  where  glorious 
destinies  await." 

The  academy  flourished  from  the  start  and 
was  each  year  attended  by  hundreds  of  young 
htdies  from  Kansas  and  other  States.  The  en- 
rollment on  several  occasions  was  near  three 
hundred.  All  of  the  academic  branches  were 
taught,  while  music  and  painting  were  special 
features  which  alone  attracted  many  pupils. 

In  September.  1895.  the  school-  opened  what 
promised  to  be  the  most  flourishing  year  in  its 
history — but  alas,  the  hand  of  fate  was  against  it. 

On  Tuesday,  September  3.  1895,  2it  to  a.  m. 
flames  were  discovered  coming  from  that  ])art  of 
the  building  occupied  by  the  kitchen. 

The  volunteer  fire  brigade  responded  quickly 
to  the  alarm  but  it  was  soon  seen  that  their  efforts 
would  count  for  little.  The  Parsons  fire  company 
caine  up  on  a  special  train  and  joined  the  fight 
against  the  flames.  The  buildings  however,  were 
doomed  and  in  a  few  hours  what  had  cost  $75,000 
in  money  and  many  years  of  labor  was  a  mass  of 
smouldering  ruins,  with  only  Si6,ooo  insurance 
to  cover  the  loss.  Those  were  the  days  of  a 
financial  stringency  in  this  country  and  so  great 
a  Joss  at  such  a  time  was  a  staggering  blow. 
Mother  Catherine,  the  superior  of  the  order  then, 
disbanded  the  school  and  sent  most  of  the  Sisters 
to  other  points.     An  eflFort  was  made  to  get  the 


SISTERS  OF  LORETTO.  279 

school  rebuilt,  but  the  final  decision  was  that  the 
order  leave  St.  Paul  until  a  more  favorable  time 
and  in  1896,  the  remaining  Sisters  departed.  In 
1897  another  effort  was  made  to  revive  the 
school,  but  this  too  failed.  Hov»^ever,  many  of 
the  Sisters  still  had  a  longing  to  go  back  to  their 
old  home  and  the  people  were  always  anxious 
to  have  them  return,  thus  the  sentiment  to  return 
was  always  kept  alive  both  within  and  without 
the  order. 

In  June  1914,  the  Sisters  of  Loretto  definitely 
decided  to  return  to  St.  Paul  (Osage  Mission) 
but  it  was  not  until  August  24,  1915,  that  they 
again  took  up  their  abode  there.  On  that  day 
eight  sisters  arrived,  viz:  Sister  Columbiere  as 
superior,  and  Sisters  Coaina,  Carmela,  Rose 
Teresa,  Francis  Xavier.  Angeles,  Joachim  and 
Vera.  They  took  their  positions  as  teachers  in 
the  parish  schools  at  the  opening  of  the  term  a 
few  days  after  their  arrival 

The  Sisters  of  Loretto  have  announced  their 
intention  of  rebuilding  the  academy  but  have 
been  delayed  because  of  the  financial  conditions 
resulting  from  the  European  war. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

MOTHER  BRIDGET. 

''She  felt  in  her  spirit  the  summons  of  grace 
That  called  Ji^r  to  live  for  a  suffering  race; 
And,  heedles  of  pleasure,  of  comfort,  of  home. 
Rose  quickly  like  Mary,  and  answered  "I  come." 
She  put  from  Jier  person  the  trappings  of  pride. 
And   passed   from  her   home  with   the  joy   of  a 

bride, 
A' or  wept  at  the  threshold  as  onzuard  she  moved — 
For  her  heart  zvas  \on    fire   in    the   cause   it  ap- 
proved." 

— Gei^ld  Griffin. 

Mother  Bridget  Hayden  was  the  only  one  of 
the  four  sisters  who  came  to  the  Osage  ^Itssion 
in  1847  who  was  well  known  to  the  white  people 
who  came  later.  Mother  Concordia  left  the 
Osages  in  i86t,  when  there  were  few  white  peo- 
ple located  on  the  Neosho,  and  the  records  of 
her  work  were  destroyed  when  tlie  academy  burn- 
ed. Sister  Bridget  Hayden  became  "Mother"  of 
the  convent  at  the  "Mission"  in  1859  when 
Mother  Concordia  resigned  because  of  poor 
health,  and  retained  that  position  until  her  death 
in  1890.  During  her  reign  as  Mother  the  country 
settled  up  rapidly  and  Osage  Mission  reached  its 
pinnacle. 

St.  Ann's  academy  was  chartered  by  her,  and 

all  the  big  buildings    were    erected    under    her 

directions.     The   fame  of  St.  Ann's  spread  fai 

and  wide  and  girls  came  from  far  and  near  to 

(280) 


MOTHER  BRIDGET.  281 

this  fountain  of  knowledge  to  receive  that 
mental  and  moral  training  so  necessary  to  a  suc- 
cessful life  here  on  earth  and  an  eternal  reward 
in  the  world  to  come. 

Margaret  Hayden  was  born  in  Kilkenney  Ire- 
land in  1 8 14.  When  only  six  years  old,  she  came 
with  her  parents  to  America  and  located  near 
Perryville,  Mo.  She  grew  up  at  this  place  and 
remained  there  until  her  27th  year  when  she 
entered  the  convent  of  the  Loretto  Sisters  at 
Old  Bethlehem.  In  1842  she  renounced  all 
worldly  advantages  and  "took  the  veil"  of  an 
humble  '\Sister  of  Loretto  at  the  Foot  of  the 
Cross,"  as  Sister  Mary  Bridget.  This  event  oc- 
curred at  St.  Vincent's  Academy  at  Cape 
Girardeau,  Mo.  Later  she  was  transferred  to 
Loretto,  Kentucky,  where  she  was  stationed 
when  she  answered  the  call  of  Father  Schoen- 
makers  and  came  to  the  Osages  on  the  Neosho  in 

1847- 

What  the  Mission  was  in  those  days  is  best 
told  in  the  letters  of  the  early  Jesuits  elsewhere 
in  this  book.  The  privations  that  these  pioneer 
women  suffered  on  the  bleak  prairies  can  scarcely 
be  conjectured  by  the  people  of  today.  Only 
those  who  have  tasted  such  a  life  can  know  it  or 
realize  it.  But  Mother  Bridget  had  devoted  her 
life  to  the  "Master"  and  had  freely  answered 
His  call  to  carry  the  blessings  of  Christianity  and 
civilization  to  the  aborigines  of  the  plains.  Faith- 
ful to  her  vows,  she  set  about  with  a  hearty  will 
doing  the  work  laid  out  for  her.  Osage  girls  who 
had  roamed  the  prairies  in  scant  attire  were 
gathered  into  the  schools  and  not  only  taught  the 
elements  of  education,  but  were  also  trained  to 
make  their  owni  clothing  after  the  style  of  the 
whites  and  to  become  modest,  and  refined  young 
women,  imbued  willi  a  desire  to  lead  honorable, 


2S2  MOTHER  BRIDGET. 

Christian  lives.  Ask  any  of  the  younger  women 
of  the  O sages  today  who  taught  their  mothers  to 
pray,  civihzed  them,  taught  them  all.  domestic 
arts  and  virtues,  they  will  say  at  once.  Mother 
Bridget  and  the  sisters.  In  fact  her  name  was 
for  years,  and  is  to  some  extent  yet,  a  household 
word  among  the  Osages,  and  they  loudly  bewailed 
her  death.  Mother  Bridget  and  her  associates 
did  for  the  Osage  girls  what  Father  Schoen- 
makers  and  his  associates  did  for  the  Osage  boys. 

When  Osage  Mission  ceased  to  be  an  Indian 
reservation  and  when  the  red  men  and  their 
families  moved  their  wigwams  from  the  beautiful 
Neosho  valley  they  loved  so  well,  Mother 
Bridget's  labors  among  them  ceased  only  in  part. 
She  enlarged  the  buildings  and  opened  St.  Ann's 
Academy  and  many  of  the  Osage  girls  came  each 
year  to  attend  the  school. 

John  R.  Brunt  published  this  tribute  to  Mother 
]')ri(]get  on  February  6,  1890: 

"For  over  forty  yeary  Mother  Bridget  labored 
in  the  field  of  education,  and  thousands  brought 
under  her  influence  will  rise  at  the  last  day  to 
call  her  blessed.  How  many  a  poor  priest  in  the 
scattered  country  missions  of  days  gone  by  could 
tell  of  the  generous  aid  and  friendly  hand  reach- 
ed out  to  help  in  their  needs,  and  to  make  up 
what  was  wanting  in  their  altar  furniture.  No 
"Taberical  Society"  then  existed  in  Washin^gton, 
but  Mother  Bridget's  heart  supphed  its  place  in 
Kansas.  Under  the  fostering  care  of  this  admir- 
able woman  the  once  poor  Indian  school  has  been 
replaced  by  a  prosperous  academy,  and  the  build- 
ings erected  and  improvements  made  by  her  are 
now  worth  eighty  thousands  dollars. 

"A  community  of  twenty-five  sisters  now  suc- 
ceeds the  four  sainted  pioneers  of  forty-three 
years  ago.     In    1886  the  handsome  chapel,  the 


MOTHER  BRIDGET.  283 

pride  of  the  convent,  was  erected,  and  just  last 
year  the  academy  proper  was  enlarged  and  im- 
proved. All  these  are  monuments  to  her  untiring 
energy  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of  Christian  educa- 
tion ;  but  her  charity,  no  one  will  be  able  to  count 
the  thousand  deeds  and  the  benefits  she  has 
scattered  thruout  the  country  with  such  a  lavish 
hand.  No  poor  church  ever  applied  to  her  for 
alms  without  a  generous  response,  no  begging* 
letter  was  ever  left  unanswered,  no  orphan  ever 
appealed  to  her  in  vain,  and  God  seemed  to  bless 
and  multiply  her  store,  otherwise  she  would  have 
had  to  stop.  Of  her  kindness  to  the  sisters  and 
pupils,  tWeir  grief  and  heart-rending  cries  over 
the  grave  of  their  mother  speak  more  eloquently 
than  pen  or  tongue.  If  the  Almighty  so  lovingly 
rewarded  "a  cup  of  cold  water  given  in  His 
name,"  how  superabundant  will  be  the  reward 
of  the  half-a-century  of  faithful  service  rendered 
Him  by  the  lamented  Mother  Bridget.  Among 
the  distinguished  names  of  the  pioneers  of  Kan- 
sas, ]\lother  Bridget  Hayden  is  certainly  deserv- 
ing of  a  prominent  place." 

Margaret  Hill  McCarter  wrote  a  sketch  of 
Mother  Duchesne  and  Mother  Bridget,  from 
which  the  following  is  taken  : 

"To  this  Osage  Mission  one  sweet  October 
day  in  1847  came  a  mother  superior.  Bridget 
Hayden.  No  she  wasn't  a  French  woman,  nor 
Spanish,  nor  Italian.  She  was  plam  Irish.  With 
some  Sisters  of  Loretto  from  Kentucky,  she  came 
to  spend  the  last  forty  years  of  her  life  in  Kan- 
sas. She  established  at  once  a  boarding  school 
for  girls  where  soon  both  white  and  red  came  to 
karn  of  her.  Far  beyond  the  limits  of  Kansas 
the  name  of  St.  Ann's  Academy  was  .spread  and 
inside  its  walls  many  a  young  girl  was  educated. 

''Mother  Bridget  saw  the  history  of  a  common- 


284  MOTHE:r  BRIDGET. 

wealth  unfold.  She  came  seven  years  before  the 
beginning  of  the  territorial  record.  She  saw  the 
evolution  into  a  state.  She  saw  that  state 
struggle  thru  its  days  of  border  strife,  its  days  of 
rebuilding  after  warfare,  its  mastery  of  the 
desert  and  the  steady  march  to  occupation  and 
wealth.  From  her  cloister  window  she  watched 
the  prairie  grasses  turn  to  wavering  wheat  shut 
in  by  walls  of  corn.  She  saw  cities  rise  where 
only  bleak  waste  had  been,  and  a  state  grow 
powerful  that  was  once  an  Indian  hunting 
ground.  And  what  was  she  doing  thru  all  these 
forty  years !  .\mong  all  our  noted  list,  Kansas 
has  no  more  dignified  and  honorable  name  than 
hers. 

"We  are  prone  to  think  the  Indian  problem  is 
solved.  It  is  not.  Generation  after  generation 
must  pass  away  before  the  last  drop  of  Osage 
blood  in  amalgamated  lines  shall  be  lost.  The 
future  of  the  remnant  of  this  once  great  tribe,  its 
influence  in  the  middle  west,  is  a  story  yet  to  be 
written.  In  the  years  gone  by  it  was  never  the 
government  that  controlled  it  so  much  as  the 
church  in  its  broad  reach  of  influence.  What  the 
Osages  did  or  refrained  from  doing  can  oftenest 
be  traced  back  to  the  character  of  the  red  man 
as  shaped  by  the  good  influence  of  the  white 
man's  civilization.  Think  you  this  commanding 
white  haired  woman  who  spent  the  best  years  of 
her  life  among  them,  had  no  sway  in  the  course 
of  events  for  them?  Think  you  her  record  will 
not  .shine  out  one  day  when  the  great  reckoning 
is  done?  The  record  of  a  real  mother  superior 
in  her  intelligence,  her  consecration,  her  executive 
power  and  her  sweet  loving  sympathy.  These 
things  are  not  lost.  They  come  forth  again  and 
again  shaping  the  lives  of  children  and  children's 
children. 


MOTHER  bridge;t.  28$ 

"It  is  just  and  praiseworthy  to  bestow  honor  up- 
on the  memory  of  these  two  noble  women — 
Mother  Phihppine  Duchesne  and  Mother  Bridget 
Hayden — wlio  gave  themselves  for  His  sake,  who 
said:  "Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this: 
that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friend." 

Mother  Bridget  continued  her  active  life  even 
after  she  had  passed  the  allotted  age  of  "three 
score  and  ten."  She  was  blessed  with  good 
health  up  to  within  a  few  days  of  her  death, 
which  occurred  at  the  academy  January  23, 
1890,  congestion  of  the  lungs  being  the  direct 
cause  of  her  death.  She  died  as  only  saints  can 
die,  praising  and  blessing  God  that  her  crown  was 
so  near  and  her  exile  so  near  its  close. 

In  the  account  of  her  death  the  Neosho  County 
Journal  said: 

"To  the  few  privileged  to  kneel  around  her 
couch,  it  was  an  edifying  spectacle  to  behold  the 
heavenly  peace  and  hope  which  illuminated  her 
countenance  wdien  she  was  assured  that  her  end 
was  near.  Burning  ejaculations  of  love  and 
praise  and  thanksgiving  escaped  from  her  heart 
of  hearts,  and  with  unfaltering  voice  she  once 
more  repeated  the  three  vows  of  Poverty,  Charity 
and  Obedience,  by  which  fifty  years  before,  she 
had  bound  herself  to  follow  Jesus  in  the  thorny 
path  of  self-denial.  A  moment  later  and  she 
beheld  Him  face  to  face.  One  of  the  most  re- 
markable women  that  ever  yet  set  foot  on  the 
soil  of  Kansas,  passed  away  from  earth. 

"The  Mother  General  of  the  Loretto  Sister- 
hood and  a  companion  came  from  St.  Louis  to 
attend  the  funeral,  and  hundreds  of  people  of 
the  Mission  and  from  neighboring  towns,  to  ?J1» 
of  whom  the  name  of  Mother  Bridget  is  a  house- 
hold word,  gathered  around  her  bier  in  the 
spacious  chapel,  to  get  a  last  look  at  the  motherly 


286  MOTHER  BRIDGET. 

face,  which  until  the  great  dav  of  the  Resur- 
rection, they  never  might  behold  again.  She  was 
interred  on  Friday  evening  January  24th  in  the 
quiet  graveyard  of  the  convent  amid  the  sighs  and 
tears  of  many  who  will  miss  for  years  to  come, 
the  great  heart  which  is  now  at  rest." 

"To  live  in  the  hearts  we  leave  behind,  is  not 
to  die." 

A    TRIBUTE    TO    MOTHER    BRIDGET. 

Milwaukee,  January  28,  1890. 
John  R.  Brunt,  Esq.. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  favor  'of  the  26th  inst. 
came  this  morning.  All  that  I  can  say  in  reply 
is  that  I  first  got  acquainted  with  Mother  Bridget 
in  the  summer  of  1851,  when  I  reached  Osage 
Mission,  and  since  that  day  I  saw  in  her  but  the 
same  enterprising,  intelligent  and  devout  lady 
she  proved  herself  to  be  all  her  lifetime.  The 
good  mother  had  an  untold  amount  of  labor  and 
suffering,  which  she  might  well  have  avoided, 
but  she  taxed  herself  willingly  with  them  for  the 
sake  of  the  poor  Indian  girls  entrusted  to  her 
care,  she  did  all  the  time  show  herself  a  mother 
to  them,  and  indeed  a  most  affectionate  one.  All 
her  energy  was  devoted  to  remove  from,  them 
their  evil  and  wild  habits,  and  remould  as  it  were 
their  hearts,  exciting  in  them  most  pure  and  noble 
aspirations,  in  a  word  trying  to  infuse  in  them 
a  part  of  that  great  love  of  God  of  which  her  own 
heart  was  full,  and  praise  be  to  truth,  successful* 
she  was  in  a  great  part :  I  say  in  a  great  part,  for 
it  is  not  presumable  that  in  speaking  of.  the  educa- 
tion of  wild  children,  one  may  change  or  better 
the  nature  of  all  those  who  are  brought  to  be 
educated,  but  in  spite  of  all  this  she  always  had 
&  powerful  influence  over  them  all,  even  the  most 


MOTHER  BRIDGE.  28/ 

wild,  whom  if  she  could  not  correct,  at  least  she 
kept  from  becoming  worse. 

The  knowledge  and  culture,  which  through 
her  indefatigable  care  was  imparted  to  the  Indian 
girls  she  did  save  is  now  producing  its  fruits,  in 
the  intelligence,  good  manners,  cleanliness,  and 
religious  spirit,  which  this  very  day  can  be  no- 
ticed in  the  many  Osages  half-breed  Indians  at  the 
different  nice  settlements  that  nature  has  formed 
in  the  Indian  Territory.  The  lady-like  behavior 
which  those  once  her  pupils  do  show  at  present  is 
the  evidence  that  her  labors  were  not  lost. 

Of  the  local  temporal  fruits  of  her  enterprising 
spirit  I  do  not  need  to  say  any  thing.  The  splen- 
did buildings  and  elegant  grounds  of  St.  Ann's 
Academy  rpoak  for  themsel/es,  and  are  llvmg 
monuments  of  the  great  genius  she  had  and  show 
how  able  she  was  for  the  charge  of  superior  she 
held  for  so  many  years  over  her  flourishing  con- 
vent. 

She  is  now  gone!  May  her  beautiful  soul  rest 
in  peace.  Her  remains  shall  moulder  in  the  con- 
vent cemetery,  but  her  memory  alive  shall  last 
for  many  years  to  come,  and  her  name  shall  be 
a  home  name  to  a  great  many  not  only  in  Neosho 
county,  but  away  in  the  Indian  Territory  and 
from  both  i)laces  for  many  years  loving  ones 
will  pronounce  her  name  with  gratitude,  and 
devout  hearts  will  offer  up  fervent  prayers  for 
her   soul.  Respectfully, 

Paul  ^T.  Poxzigtjonk,  S.  J. 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 


922.5  0035518561 


